Towong Council hope to create an “iconic drive to rival the Great Ocean Road” with a project creating a branded tourist trail along the Murray River Road from Bellbridge to to Khancoban.
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New areas to stop, signage and lookouts are planned along the route with initial work beginning last week.
Two tenders have been received to design five synonymous artworks, to be located at Tintaldra, Khancoban, Newmans Lookout, Bringenbrong and Mt Alfred Gap.
Initial concept plans feature a Murray Cod, Rainbow Trout, Bogong Moths and other well-known species, along with a land art project comprising of 108 timber of concrete poles where Murray River Road and Main Road meet in Tintaldra.
Towong mayor Aaron Scales said the concepts had been developed by a steering group and would continue to be worked on.
“We’ll be deciding the successful tender in our confidential meeting on Tuesday,” he said.
“I would assume it will start fairly quickly once the tender has been awarded.
“The steering group has been meeting for about six months and will work on design concepts.
“They’ve just started works on a new lookout at Talgarno – they’re preparing the site for landscaping and new seating – and they’re starting on another one at Granya soon.”
Cr Scales said the Great River Road project, which received $828,000 in external funding, was one of five key initiatives identified in the Upper Murray 2030 Vision Plan.
“There’s a couple of wayside stops and that’s about it currently – it will be eye-catching having the artwork,” he said.
“I think people will see the gateway art and go ‘wow’ and that will lead into the trail we’re developing with the artwork and signage.
“I don’t think there is a lot of awareness about how beautiful the area is, so I think making it known will lead to a good increase in the number of tourists coming through the area.”
Meanwhile, Cr Scales said The Towong Shire Hunting Tourism Steering Group had determined to await the release of the Victorian Government’s Draft Deer Management Strategy before making a recommendation on whether Towong Shire Council should proceed with developing the Towong Shire Hunting Tourism Action Plan.
“The group decided they were better holding off and not going into any design process, if there is even going to be another plan, and see what the state government comes out with,” he said.
“The state plan should be released halfway through July and the steering group will be getting back to council in August.”
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