From the State Government Newsroom:
The Old Beechy Rail Trail will become an iconic tourist destination thanks to a $750,000 upgrade backed strongly by the Brumby Labor Government. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the upgraded trail would receive $500,000 in Government support and comprise of 45 kilometres of off-road walking and cycling track from Colac, to Beech Forest and to Gellibrand for local residents and tourists. “The trail aims to become an iconic attraction that will boost tourism and create more jobs for the south-west,” Ms Allan said. “This will be achieved by linking the trail to nearby tourist attractions and increasing the range of activities for visitors to the region, especially the Great Ocean Road’s hinterland region.” Ms Allan said the project involved: • Creating an 11 kilometre off-road section along the trail; Ms Allan said the Brumby Government was supporting the project because an enhanced trail with improved facilities will attract more users and visitors to the region. “Improving the trail will encourage the growth of existing businesses and development of new associated businesses,” Ms Allan said. “The project will also reduce all risks associated with the trail’s on-road sections and improve connectivity for local residents to key community facilities and amenities. “The project will create 10 jobs during the construction phase and has the potential to create a more jobs through the growth of the tourism sector.” Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney, said funding for the Old Beechy Rail Trail upgrade would be provided to Colac Otway Shire Council through the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and its Provincial Pathways Program. “The $7.6 million, four-year Provincial Pathways Program is developing rail trails and pathways to generate economic, social and recreational benefits,” she said. “Rail trails and pathways are environment-friendly and a great way to experience nature and the program is helping highlight the natural beauty of regional Victoria while capitalising on the other benefits that go with a popular recreational attraction.” “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) has provided $553 million to fund 351 projects worth more than $1.4 billion across provincial Victoria.” |
From the above media release it is unclear who is contributing the other $250,000, however Railtrails Australia believes the Colac-Otway Shire will be contributing this amount.
See our Old Beechy Trail Description for more information on this rail trail.
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Register for news updatesThis week, we received the tragic news that the Mullumbimby railway station on the old Northern Rivers Railway was destr...
If you would like to be able to wheel your bike onto new NSW country trains to get to rail trails please contact the NSW...
The Feasibility Study for the Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail (BGRT) in south west NSW was completed in November 2022. The ...
The iconic Northern Rivers Rail Trail keeps rolling on! On the occasion of the opening of the Casino to Bentley stag...
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The Adelaide to Port Dock railway line was constructed in 1856 to service the passenger and freight movement between the...
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The official opening of the Casino to Bentley stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail was held at the Old Casino Station...
While most of the work extending the Great Southern Rail Trail from Welshpool to Alberton had been completed by the end ...
The long-awaited New England Rail Trail (NERT) stage 1 from Glen Innes to Ben Lomond in northern NSW is now a very big s...
An extension to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail will go ahead after a funding agreement was reached. Stage Four of the Amy Gi...
Riders and walkers will soon have another escape from the very popular Warburton Rail Trail courtesy of a program to cle...
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