Riders and walkers will soon have another escape from the very popular Warburton Rail Trail courtesy of a program to clean up the tight bends of the Little Yarra River near Yarra Junction. With its headwaters in the ranges near Powelltown, the Little Yarra was a major water source for the timber industry in that area, and for the steam engines that brought sawn logs to Yarra Junction from there.
Sadly, the river has not been looking the best lately, with weeds such as blackberry, honeysuckle, ivy, willow, holly, elm and sycamore maple clogging its lower reaches. Melbourne Water saw an opportunity to improve the health of a 2km stretch of the river by removing weeds and planting native vegetation while providing rest areas, a wetland and a shared path from the rail trail just east of the retail area and back towards town via a water main easement.
Work on the first 1km (Stage 1A) to a rest area on the Warburton Hwy are expected to be finished by mid-year, with Yarra Ranges Shire potentially funding a roadside path along the Warburton Highway back to town to complete a loop.
Stage 1B needs a pedestrian crossing of the highway before following the river opposite the Blue Lotus Water Garden up to the Yarra-Silvan Conduit Reserve. The trail makes its way along the reserve to Riversdale St near Upper Yarra Secondary College and tantalizing close to the route of the Powelltown Tramway, some of which is already preserved as part of the Walk into History trail.
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Register for news updatesThe Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail has a new attraction – a restored NSW Railways guard’s van. Located at...
The Australian and South Australian Government’s have jointly (50:50) funded $200m to replace the existing Glenelg Tra...
Rail Trails Australia is very happy to announce some new and enhanced features to our website have recently been impleme...
The bridge over the Stuart Murray Canal on the Murchison to Rushworth (Waranga) Rail Trail in northern Victoria has been...
The members of the Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail (CMRT) are continuing their planning and advocacy for funding and ...
The south-eastern end of the Heathmont-Belgrave Trail in Melbourne has received some long-overdue love from Yarra Ranges...
Neighbouring shires Lismore City Council and Byron Shire Council have completed an application together in a bid to se...
Rail trail supporters at Glenroy station site, 15 June 2024. ...
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Recently Rail Trails Australia ran a competition on its social media to win 2 full day e-Bike hire passes to ride the Gr...
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On 7 June 2024, the eastern extension of the Great Southern Rail Trail was opened to users, completing a 129 km trail th...
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