Baw Baw Shire
About this page
Baw Baw Shire is located in West Gippsland, approximately 90 kilometres from Melbourne, with a population of about 38,000 people. The shire is made up of over 100 localities spread over 3,855 square kilometres of rolling green hills, towns, mountains and top agricultural land.
What's happening in Baw Baw
Feb 08 Bicycle Victoria spoke to the Recreation Officer at Baw Baw Shire Council, Gabrielle Vaughan, to find out what was happening for bike riders in their shire.
Budget
The Council has allocated $200,000 for 2007-08. When this spending is broken down per person ($5.26 per person) the bike infrastructure budget is greater than most metropolitan Councils (see BIXE).
Two Towns Trail
In November Baw Baw Shire Council awarded the tender of the two towns trail, a 7km bicycle / walking track between Drouin and Warragul to Sure Constructions of Warragul for $1,500,000.00.
The two towns trail feasibility funding came from the Department of Human Services because of the public health benefits of creating walkable communities that link where people live to places of interest such as shops, schools and recreational facilities.
This project is funded by Vic Roads over the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 financial years with a $165,000 contribution from Baw Baw Shire Council.
Works are scheduled to commence in March 2008, starting in Drouin, and weather permitting is expected to be completed by December 2008.
Other Projects
As well as working on the Two Towns Trail the council has been developing signage on cycle training routes and installed new undercover bike storage in the Mason St carpark in Warragul.
If you have any suggestions for the Council on possible improvements for bike riders in their area please email them.
Two Towns Bicycle Trail
Jul 07 The Two Towns Bicycle Trail, from Drouin to Warragul, is closer to being a reality. This sealed trail will be a better alternative to riders currently travelling between Drouin and Warragal using the Drouin-Warragul Rd or the Princes Freeway.
This project was committed by the Bracks goverment prior to the 2007 state election. We are hopeful that this project will be built during the 2007-08 financial year.
For more information please see the attached plans for the path (PDF 158KB) and also some background information on the Baw Baw Shire website. The current plan shows a short on-road section, we will be working with VicRoads to see if the link can be completely off-road.