Campaspe Shire Council has delivered an early present for Rushworth residents and visitors, with the first section of the 11km Waranga Rail Trail set to be open before Christmas.
The installation of the 1km asphalt section of the trail was completed on Friday, December 6 with the addition of line marking, signage, bollards and fencing being added in the following week.
The 1km path begins at the High St footpath beside the historic goods shed and railway lines and concludes at Bendigo-Murchison Rd.
Council confirmed the second section, including a significant portion of the 10km pathway connecting Bendigo-Murchison Rd crossing to Channel Inlet Rd, has been installed.
However, additional work is still required on this section, including improvements to drainage systems, road shoulders, and repairs to six VicTrack bridges.
This section will remain closed to the public until works are completed and the council has asked for the public to stay off the path until completion.
The $3.47 million project has been in development since its design phase in 2022, with construction having commenced in early 2024.
The project was partly funded by the Federal Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Black Saturday Bushfire Recovery Grant Program to utilise Rushworth’s natural assets and revitalise the town’s tourism potential.
The Waranga Rail Trail project is currently listed on Campaspe Shire Council’s website as scheduled for completion in March 2025.
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