The Wahgunyah to Lake Moodemere trail will be a “jewel in the crown” of the Indigo Shire when completed, mayor Jenny O’Connor believes.
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The largest section of the shared walking and cycling track, linking the Wahgunyah township to the Murray River, was opened yesterday.
The 2.3 kilometre section picked up from stage one, from Blanche Street to the town’s recreation reserve, and extended it to follow the river.
The works were completed within a month and under the $250,000 budget.
Cr O'Connor said the community were eager to test out the new section of track.
“It goes through the red gums, along the river, it’s magnificent and I can’t think of anywhere else like this in Indigo Shire,” she said.
“People were waiting for this next part, because it now brings you right down to the river, and the feedback we’re getting is fantastic.”
The next 1.4 kilometre will finish the link to Lake Moodemere and Infrastructure Services Director Ian Ellet expected stage three to cost less than $200,000.
For not a huge cost, we get a great outcome for our communities and tourism
- Indigo mayor Jenny O'Connor
“We have $33,000 in the draft 2018/19 budget to do planning and design … then that will inform us of the costs and we would look to the following year, 2019/20, to then fund it,” he said.
“The project has been fully council-funded so far.”
Mr Ellet said the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail, part of a $12 million state government funding package announced last year, was also progressing in the planning stages.
“There’s approval around environmental management, cultural heritage, land owner consent and waterways … we’re still waiting on the (state) funding allocated, but we’re progressing as fast as we can and would be hoping to tender works later in the year,” he said.
Cr O’Connor said the council would plan promotion and a large opening when the final stage of the track was completed.
“We have to stage these things – having come down here and looked at it, personally I feel these are the kind of things that become a priority because you can see for not a huge cost, we get a great outcome for our communities and tourism,” she said.
“It’s a huge asset for Indigo Shire.”
The Wahgunyah to Lake Moodemere trail was identified as a key project in the Hume Region Significant Tracks and Trails Strategy 2014-2023.