Great Victorian Rail Trail to get major artworks

The 134 km Great Victorian Rail Trail in northeast Victoria is to get some major artworks – and planning for a connection to Seymour is progressing.

With $1.2 million in State Government funding, Regional Development Victoria and Mitchell, Murrindindi and Mansfield Shire Councils will install large scale sculptural artworks and wayfinding signage to improve the Great Victorian Rail Trail experience.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor Rhonda Sanderson said the funding is a fantastic outcome for not only Mitchell Shire, but for partners at Murrindindi and Mansfield Shires.
“The Great Victorian Rail Trail is a standout tourism asset for both Tallarook and the Mitchell Shire region, as evidence by record numbers of visitors over the past year,” Councillor Sanderson said.
“We’re very excited to see the artworks, and I’m sure they will become tourist attractions as iconic as the silo art trails in regional Victoria”.

Mayor Sanderson also provided an update on the plan to link the regional centre of Seymour with the start of the GVRT at Tallarook.
Council has chosen a preferred route for detailed investigations, subject to future government funding.
The preferred route will see the trail follow School House Lane and Dysart Road from Tallarook. An underpass or overpass will be needed to cross the railway line, but if this is not supported by rail authorities an alternative route has been identified.
The next stage of work will include further design on the preferred alignment, including how the route will connect into the Seymour township.
“These are very early days and there’s a lot of work to be done,” Mayor Sanderson said. “We will continue our investigations, including advocating for external funding for the next stages of the project, from Federal and State Governments.
“The proposed trail has the potential for fantastic economic and health and wellbeing benefits for our community. While some concerns have been raised by nearby landowners, we are looking forward to working with them to explore the concept and the proposed routes.”