Opening of Gippsland Plains Rail Trail (Vic)

The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail (GPRT) is celebrating the opening of its final section from Traralgon to Glengarry on Mother’s Day 11th May 2014.

The Official Opening will be at Glengarry Railway Station at 11.00am. The GPRT now extends for 63 km from Traralgon train station to the Stratford train station, with only a short road diversion at Cowwarr yet to be completed due to a missing bridge over the Thompson River.

The opening of the GPRT is being held in conjunction with the Mother’s Day Classic (MDC) breast cancer research walk and run which is the major donor of the National Breast cancer foundation. The MDC is being held in two sections from Toongabbie to Glengarry and from Traralgon to Glengarry. Starting times are from 8.30 am at Burnetts Road in Traralgon and at the Fire Station in Toongabbie. This year, the organisers of the walk are encouraging participants not only to enter, but to also try their hand at fundraising. It’s easy to register and to fundraise online at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au. At the completion of the walk/Run in Glengarry you are welcome to join in a FREE family fun Day beginning at 10am to 1pm, complete with a jumping castle, the Briagolong Bush Band, Ko Ko The Clown and other entertainment.

Bushies award winning bakery in Glengarry will be open for coffee and food to celebrate the opening of the GPRT and Mother’s Day. As will the Toongabbie Rail Trail General Store and other businesses in Glengarry and Toongabbie.

Russell Northe MP Member for Morwell, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Energy and Resources has played a significant role supporting and funding this project through the Victorian Government Regional Growth Fund Economic Infrastructure Program, and he will be officially opening the section from Glengarry to Traralgon.

Twenty years of hard work by the volunteers of the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Committee of Management has made possible this nearly completed trail, and we look forward to working with all levels of Government to connect the trail over the Thomson River at Cowwarr and Boggy Creek at Tinamba, GPRT Chairperson”, Helen Hoppner said

“The GPRT is a wonderful community asset for all the community to enjoy and the small businesses along the trail to benefit from the expected surge of visitors to the area. The flat and picturesque terrain makes it easy to access the 7 townships along the trail whether for a leisurely walk or cycle or to commute for work purposes. If you are visiting the area then there is the ability to catch public transport, stay overnight along the trail and return to your original starting point without using a car.”

“We look forward to continuing vital works on the Gippsland Plains Rail trail, working with our local tourism organisations and the community to make it a very exciting and world class tourist destination in the future”, said Helen Hoppner.

Contacts

Helen Hoppner Chairperson Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Committee of Management – 0429 924 395

Rachel Lewis – Organiser of Opening 0400 933 112

Click here for more detail and map of the rail trail.