Bicycle Network Victoria: Regional Routes
Dookie Rail Trail
Located in the Shepparton region, this high-standard trail has reached its first stage and has great potential for the local community and visitors if further developed.
Dookie Rail Trail reaches milestone
18 March 2010. The 5.5km Stage One of the Dookie Rail Trail has been completed and will be open to traffic when the Great Victorian Bike Ride passes through Dookie later this year.
The trail was funded by the City of Greater Shepparton, which is now investigating Stage Two, which will go from Dookie west towards Shepparton (7km to Cosgrove) and then ultimately on to Shepparton, providing a 30km trail from Shepparton to Dookie.
Two expensive bridges had to be replaced and an excellent hard-packed granitic sand surface suit all bike types and walking opportunities.
Prime mover of the project, Peter McManus, said the Friends of the Dookie Rail Trail have received great cooperation from the Shepparton authorities, although VicTrack, the owner of the land, had been an obstacle.
The project came about after a community forum in 2002 identified the Dookie to Katamatite railway line, which was closed and removed in the early 1980's, as a priority for a rail trail.
Many trees were planted along the trail in 1996-97 as part of the 'Corridor Of Green' project.
There is also an opportunity to extend the stage one trail into Moira Shire, pushing the trail north to Katamatite.
