Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail - Updates
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The latest developments and improvements on the trail
Lovely gravel
April 08.
Works on the Rail Trail upgrade and resheeting works have commenced in earnest. The construction will be in two projects: trail surfacing and then crossings, barriers and signage.
The surface presently is being graded and compacted ready for resheeting. The entire trail has had vegetation cleared and pruned in anticipation of mechanical works. The contractors will level any depressions in the trail and the entire trail is to be 'crowned' or dome shaped to facilitate and promote drainage.
The granitic sand is the same type and composition as sand used for all tracks and trails in the Ballarat area.
The re sheeting should be complete by the end of June.
State Government commits $250,000 to Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail
Nov 07 The new Minister for Regional Development, Jacinta Allan MP, has just announced $250,000 to resurface and improve the rail trail from Ballarat right through to Skipton. This money follows a recent similar commitment from the Federal Government and $200,000 from the three local Councils.
The project to resurface and fence the trail now has a total of $700,000. Works will begin soon and riders should be able to ride on new sections by the end of summer with the whole trail being resurfaced by mid 2008.
This is Minister Allan's first funding commitment for Rail Trails since she took over the Portfolio from the very supportive John Brumby. Now is a good time to thank the new Minister for her commitment to improving Rail Trails, we look forward to it continuing for years to come. You can send a thank you email to Minister Allan
by clicking here.
Trail to get a new high quality surface within months
Oct 07 After a long wait we will soon be able to ride on a smooth high quality gravel rail trail from Ballarat to Skipton. It will link into Lake Wendouree and be suitable for most types of bikes.
Ballarat, Golden Plains and Corangamite Councils have committed $100,000, $50,000, and $50,000 respectively and the Federal Government has just announced $250,000 for the trail upgrade. These funds will build a new trail surface for most of the trail length and will also provide new fencing to exclude motor vehicles and trail bikes.
Over $600,000 is needed to resurface the trail for its entire 52km. Over $450,000 of this has been committed by Councils and the Federal Governments. All we are waiting on is news that an application for $250,000 funding from the State Government has been successful.
All going well a new improved Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail will be ready to ride in the first half of 2008. Stay in touch with the latest news by clicking on email me updates above.
The photo to the right shows the Member for Corangamite, Mr Stewart McArthur MP and Rail Trail Champion Rudy Novotny from BalBug discussing how the $250,000 will be spent on the trail.
Funding applications have now been submitted
Mar 07 Ballarat, Golden Plains and Corangamite Councils have all committed significant funds to upgrading the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail. The councils have also now submitted applications to the State and Federal Governments. Although this has taken a bit longer than hoped all councils are to be congratulated for this commitment.
The trail, which is currently unrideable in some sections, requires a full resurfacing and linking to Lake Wendouree. It is now probable that work will begin this year.
Click on email me updates above to stay up to date with progress on the trail.
Late last year many supporters of the trail emailed the Mayor and CEO of Ballarat council to ask them to speed up their application for state and federal funding. It would be nice for them to receive some thanks for acting on these requests. Click here to email them.
$300,000 election promise for the trail
Nov 06 The Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, has made an election promise of $300,000 to upgrade the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail by improving bicycle
access. We assume this means completing the missing link between Lake Wendouree and the current start point on the Ring Road.
This link is vital for local and visting riders and will go some way to making the trail one of Victoria's best. It is great news but comes in spite of the underwhelming commitment to the trail from the City of Ballarat.
The Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail desparately needs resurfacing if it is to deliver large financial benefits to Ballarat and the towns along the route. It is very dissappointing that the City of Ballarat is yet to submit an application to the $8 million Provincial Pathways Program for the resurfacing.
The Provincial Pathways Program has recently announced $850,000 for a rail trail from Warrnambool to Port Fairy and $500,000 for a rail trail from Rutherglen to Wahgunyah.
BalBug and Bicycle Victoria are continuing to work with council to get an application submitted for the resurfacing. If you would like to send an email to hurry the Mayor and CEO up, click here.
Ballarat Council fails to commit new funds to Rail Trail
Sep 06 The Ballarat City Council has failed to commit any new funds to the improvement and completion of the Ballarat to Skipton rail trail. In fact they have reduced the annual bike budget from $120,000 to $100,000 for this financial year.
A committed group of local advocates from the Ballarat Bicycle User Group are attempting to make sure that this does not mean the end of a successful application to the State Government's Provincial Pathways Program.
Stay informed by registering for email updates (link above) and we will let you know if your help is needed or the situation improves.
Rail Trail creeps into Ballarat while quality is set to improve
Apr 06 Works are currently underway to complete the 2.5 km high quality trail between the Western Highway and the Ring Road on the western fringe of Ballarat. This is great news as the trail will now link to the ‘Mars Trail’.
However, the trail still does not connect into Lake Wendouree and is therefore inaccessible to most locals and visitors. Also the rest of the rail trail varies from poor to average quality and is in desperate need of resurfacing.
The good news is that Ballarat City Council, Golden Plains Shire. The Ballarat Bicycle User Group and Bicycle Victoria are working together to develop a funding application for the link into town and resurfacing out to Smythesdale.
Ballarat Council upgrades section of trail
Mar 05 City of Ballarat has upgraded a section of the rail trail between Blind Creek Road and Burrumbeet Rd. Getting the section of trail between Ballarat and Smythesdale upgrade has been a priority of Bicycle Victoria and Ballarat BUG. So too has getting the trail connected to Lake Wendouree and the train station.
Some of the lobbying has paid off with Council improving 2.5km of rail trail from Blind Creek to the Avenue of Honour. The plan is to see the surface upgraded all the way to Smythesdale, which will provide Ballarat residents and visitors an uninterrupted 20km ride through the countryside.
The Ballarat Skipton Rail Trail needs work to become a quality tourism trail. With the restored Nimmons Bridge in the Golden Plains Shire section completed and with historic Ballarat at one end, the rail trail has real potential. All that is needed is a better connection into town and resurfacing of the rough sections of trail.
Currently the trail starts 3.7km from Victory Arch on the Avenue of Honour. Bicycle Victoria would like to see a trail constructed along the Avenue of Honour to connect the rail trail to the city and provide a landmark to make the start easier to find.
We met with Council in 2004 to discuss the connection and they have plans for an alternative route but the construction of it was not a priority for the City at that time.
In the local elections in November 2004 we surveyed candidates to see which ones were in favour of the rail trail. The results can be viewed on our Ballarat City Council page.
Official opening of restored Nimons bridge
Mar 04 On 12 March 2004 the Minister for State and Regional Development, the Hon. John Brumby, officially opened the restored Nimons Bridge.
Students from the nearby Woady Yaloak Primary School (pictured) helped the Minister to unveil the plaque on the bridge before riding across on their bikes.
Golden Plains Shire Council has been active in getting the trail constructed and upgraded, which Mayor Kevin Knight reported has taken 18 years.
The council received a grant of $280,000 from the Victorian Government's Living Region Living Suburbs Program to carry out further upgrades to the rail trail and $35,000 from Department of State and Regional Development for the Haddon section of trail.