The historic town of Wandiligong will be connected to the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail at Bright with the help of a $250,000 grant announced today in Bright by the Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad.
A tourist boost for the National Trust classified town, employment and business growth in Wandiligong and Bright and improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists are expected from the Alpine Shire Council project.
Ms Broad said constructing the 4.1 kilometre pedestrian and cyclist sealed pathway would create a high quality asset for the popular region.
“The Murray to Mountains trail is a popular tourist drawcard and this connection is an important boost for Wandiligong,” Ms Broad said.
“Being linked to the trail increases tourism opportunities in both directions, which has the potential to boost employment and business growth in Wandiligong and Bright.
“For residents, the safety upgrade for travel between the towns and the community building benefits add another important dimension to the value of this initiative.”
Ms Broad said the trail would be two metres wide and the $375,000 works program would include upgrading an existing pedestrian bridge over Morses Creek in Wandiligong.
She said building a high quality pathway had been identified as a high priority in Wandiligong’s town framework.
The council had consulted residents about the project and presented details of the proposed project.
Ms Broad said Tourism Victoria analysis showed the Murray to Mountains Rail trail directly contributed around $500,000 a year to the local community.
She said rail trails were providing important community and tourist infrastructure across Victoria.
Regional and Rural Development Minister, Jacinta Allan said the project grant is being provided under the Brumby Labor Government’s Small Towns Development Fund initiative through Regional Development Victoria.
Ms Allan said the project typified fund initiatives which were making a big difference to towns in provincial Victoria.
The fund has helped develop 427 community and social infrastructure projects.