Tallarook–Mansfield Rail Trail updates
About this page
This trail is also known as the Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail
Mansfield Shire budgets for Bonnie Doon section
1 July 08 Mansfield Shire Council has conditionally allocated $105,000 to start construction of the Mansfield - Bonnie Doon Rail Trail.
This represents in large part Mansfield Shire's area of jurisdiction for the larger Goulburn River Trail.
Congratulations to Council for making a tangible committment to the development of the trail. This is a fantastic step that demonstrates their intention to support the development with real money. Write to Council and let them know how supportive you are of their decision. This is an example of the kind of necessary committment that we have highlighted in the "what we are asking for" section (right), and quite rightly Bicycle Victoria is pleased to see progress.
However, this allocation comes with significant qualifying considerations. While adopted as part of the 2008-09 budget, this money will only be spent if other funding totalling $325,000 can be leveraged from other sources such as other levels of government, and will not be spent if this additional money is not secured.
The combined funds of $430,000 are earmarked in the budget to support the development of Stage One of this section of trail, from Mansfield to Maindample.
Making a budget committment is a key consideration when other levels of government consider funding rail trail projects, so this allocation will certainly bolster Mansfield's case. Bicycle Victoria will work with both the Shire and other government agencies and departments to secure the additional funding to ensure this stage of the trail goes ahead soon. Bicycle Victoria has already raised this issue with Regional Development Victoria and will be working with them to try and move this project forward.
Mitchell Shire is on the right trail
May 08 The proposed rail trail leg for Mitchell Shire has taken an important step after Council supported recommendations to seek funds for its nearly $1.88 million part of the project. An initial draft plan was released but not adopted and so an advisory committee was formed in 2006 and then late 2007 engaged GMR Engineering Services to determine its costings and feasibility for Mitchell Shire.
With five of council's nine councillors voting in support of the project as recommended by staff,
the decision appears to bring to an end more than two years of debate about the future of Mitchell Shire's share of the Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail since the release of its draft design and business plan.
The proposed trail would travel along the former railway line from Tallarook to Mansfield.
Murrindindi and Mansfield shire councils have agreed to support their legs of the trail.
In his report, Council's Economic Development Co-ordinator Shane Stanford recommended that:
- Council agree to undertake to access funding from federal and state governments for funding construction of the trail
- Council agree to provide an ongoing maintenance contribution to the trail subject to discussions with respective stakeholders
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be entered into with Murrindindi and Mansfield Shire Councils to create an overarching managing body to develop the construction and maintenance of the rail trail
- Council seek VicRoads and Victrack approval for the trail works.
Another issue for the trail identified in Mitchell Shire will be its crossing of the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Trawool. Three options were considered:
- a trail under the bridge along the river at $120 000
- an underpass under the highway at $200 000
- or a crossing directly across the road surface at $30 000 (one crossing 30 m back from the intersection and the second crossing 20 m east on the highway with advance warning signage, rumble strips, etc).
The GMR Engineering Services recommended the last option.
North–South Water Pipeline can kickstart stalled rail trail project.
Sep 07 The Sugerloaf Interconnector is a new water pipeline linking the Goulburn River near Yea with Melbourne's water supply. This very large project is currently being planned and Bicycle Victoria has asked the State Government to consider the Tallarook-Mansfield Rail Trail as a part of the project.
By incorporating the rail trail project the pipeline can provide three main benefits for local communities and Victoria:
1. At a minimum the pipeline project can build the rail trail on the pipeline bridges that will be constructed across the Yea River near Yea. The old rail bridges are in poor condition and the cost of repair has currently stalled the development of the trail in this area. These bridges could, with additional Government funding, result in the trail running from Yea to the spectacular Cheviot Tunnel (see below)
2. The development of the Sugerloaf Interconnector is the perfect opportunity for the State Government to kickstart the whole rail trail project by providing funding for trail construction from Tallarook to Mansfield and Eildon. The pipeline project will have some impacts on the communities and businesses on Lake Eildon and along the Goulburn River. These communities have been attempting to construct the rail trail to build tourism opportunities that are not dependent on water in the lake or river. Unfortunately this has all but stalled due a lack of local funds and a lack of community resources because of the extreme hardship from prolonged drought and extreme fires.
3. The route of the Sugerloaf Interconnector could provide a link between the proposed Lilydale – Yarra Glen – Healesville Rail Trail and the Tallarook–Mansfield Rail Trail. We have asked the Minister for Water and Tourism, Tim Holding, to investigate the feasibility of constructing a walking and cycling trail with the new pipeline. This trail could link Yea and Yarra Glen and would result in a tourism boom for the Yarra and Goulburn Valleys.
You can do two things to help:
- Send an email to the Mayors of the Councils along the rail trail to let them know that there is support for the rail trail and that they should be pressuring the State Government to complete the trail.
- Send and email to the Minister for Water and Tourism and Water, Tim Holding, and the Minister for Regional Development, Jacinta Allan, to let them know what you think the State Goverment should be doing for the Tallarook - Mansfield Rail Trail.
Alexandra to Eildon trail could be built as aprt of new water pipe project
Aug 07 - Local campaigners from the tourism and education sectors have been working with Goulburn Valley Water to get a trail built alongside a new water pipe between the towns of Eildon to Alexandra.
Goulburn Valley Water have been positive about the project and are currently assessing the feasibility and funding options. Click on email me updates above to be informed of any developments.
Councils adopt concept design and will now seek funding!
Jul 06 - The Mitchell, Murrindindi and Mansfield Councils have now adopted the Concept Design and Business Plan for the Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail.
The three councils have passed motions to adopt the concept design for the rail trail, set up advisory groups, and seek government funding for the project.
This is a great moment after a long and sometimes difficult process of gaining support for this project. This trail is now destined to become one of the regions most loved tourism and recreational facilities. Congratulations to all involved.
Public meetings
Jul 05 A series of public meetings were held in Tallarook, Yea and Mansfield to inform the community of what is happening with trail development. They were well attended by a variety of people including landowners who have concerns about the rail trail.
The meetings provided opportunity for people to ask questions about the trail and how it will be managed and maintained.
Stage 1
The concept design and business plan for Stage 1 of the rail trail will allow for a section of trail in each of the three shires:
- Tallarook to Granite (Mitchell Shire)
- Homewood to Yea (Murrindindi Shire)
- Maindample to Mansfield (Mansfield Shire).
A project management committee that consists of a councillor and council officer from each shire will oversee the project.
Background to the rail trail
An old railway line once operated between Tallarook and Mansfield, with a branch line to Alexandra.
The old line has many features that make it attractive as a tourism trail. These include the Cheviot Tunnel near Alexandra (pictured at top of page), the bridge over Lake Eildon at Bonnie Doon, the Goulburn River (pictured left) and interesting towns along the line.
In 2001 a feasibility study for the proposed trail was conducted. A joint council application by Mansfield, Murrindindi and Mitchell Shires in 2004 was successful in securing $145,000 from the Australian Tourism Development Program and the Regional Partnerships program.