Hepburn Shire Council (Council) officially opened the full 60-kilometre mountain bike trail network, Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) on Saturday 30 November at the Hammon Park trailhead in Creswick.
The 60-kilometre trail network is designed for a wide range of abilities and skill levels. The Whale Tail, a black or extremely difficult jump line, which had been closed for a safety audit, was also re-opened. Some minor changes have been made to improve the approach to the jump.
Despite the weather, there was an impressive turn out, many who were mountain bike enthusiasts who made the trek from Melbourne and beyond.
The $9.4 million project included funding from the State Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund ($2.56 million), with additional funding coming from State Government ($2.1 million) and the Creswick Community Bank ($250,000) to supplement Council’s contribution to the Hammon Park redevelopments.
Council borrowed $4.9 million to complete the project and was depending on funding from Commonwealth Games funding to repay the debt. Although the state government promised $1 billion for regional sports infrastructure development at the time the Games were cancelled, very little of that funding has been distributed and none has yet been allocated to Hepburn Shire.
Council acknowledges that the trails are located on Dja Dja Wurrung Countryand has worked in partnership with DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation). The branding and signage suite has been designed by Dja Dja Wurrung enterprise, DJANDAK, and features art by Nukara Nicholls-Moore, a Dja Dja Wurrung artist. The collaboration on the project has strengthened the relationship between Hepburn Shire Council and DJAARA.
Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the opening was a festive culmination of years of hard work from multiple stakeholders and years of advocacy by the community and Council. “Djuwang Baring will be a unique asset for our local community and visitors. It will generate positive tourism outcomes, including increased visitation, providing a strong return to local and regional businesses and tourism destinations,” said Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Don Henderson.
Cr Henderson noted that since the partial opening of the trails in August, the trails have been extremely popular and well-used by local and visiting mountain bikers and biking groups.
“We are noticing our local mountain bikers taking advantage of this trail network that weaves its way through Creswick’s iconic landscape. Village of the Old Goldfields Association (VOGA) and Ride Creswick are two local groups that have been putting the trails to the test and we have heard from our business community who are seeing an increase in customers,” he said.
Council has committed resources to the ongoing auditing and maintenance of the trails.
Visit www.djuwangbaring.com for more information about the trails.
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Riding the Djuwang Baring (Long Track)
Council Responds to Commonwealth Games Cancellation
This article is based on a media release from Hepburn Shire Council.