Progress on the Creswick Trails project recently hit a major milestone with around 30 kilometres of trails completed.
While the total represents half of the planned trail network, the completed sections are not continuous and there are no stages currently ready to ride.
“We understand the excitement that surrounds this project and the desire to have parts of it open early, but it’s important to be patient and to stay off the trails until they are officially open,” said Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Brian Hood. “We will continue to look at options of how we can possibly open a portion of the trail before the entire trails are complete,” he said.
Council has engaged independent experts to oversee parts of the construction process to ensure the trails are built in line with cultural, ecological and heritage controls. Council has been able to minimise impact through careful siting of built trails within the approved trail alignment. Where possible, the edges of new trails are revegetated with soil from the site to take advantage of the seed bank and to replace ground cover.
The trailhead for the Creswick Trails at Hammon Park is open for use. The trailhead is home to three lines of cycling jumps, pump track, learn to ride area, BBQ area, play area, rope climbing tower, parking and toilets, including a shower and Changing Place accessible amenities block.
The most challenging of the jumps at Hammon Park, the Whale Tail, remains closed to the public. The closure is to provide time for this very challenging element to be assessed and reviewed for safety.
The Creswick Trails project, originally envisaged in 2018, is estimated to cost $9.4 million. Initial funding of $2.6 million from Regional Development Victoria has been received. At their meeting to approve the 2023/24 budget, Council approved $4.9 million borrowings to compete the project.
The Trails were to have hosted the 2024 Commonwealth Games Mountain Bike events and Council would have been counting on recovering some of the project costs from Games infrastructure allocations. Although the Games have been cancelled, the state government has promised $1 billion in sports infrastructure funding for Regional Victoria. However, no additional State funding has been received to date.
“Council continues to lobby for additional funding for the Creswick Trails project with our local members of parliament and other government representatives,” said Council CEO, Bradley Thomas. “The State Government continues to work through the process regarding the allocation of the sports infrastructure funding. We have made our position clear that the Creswick Trails should be included in any allocation,” he said.
The Creswick Trails project remains on track to be open in December 2024.
More information on the project is available at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/creswick-trails-project-hammon-park-trailhead
This article is based on a media release from Hepburn Shire Council.
