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Publish Date: 7 August 2020
A $350,000 State Government grant will create a major recreational boost for the Wycheproof community with the planned development of local walking trails and a featured wetlands precinct.
The funding, which is part of the Government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package, is aimed at creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for Victorian businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wycheproof project, which will be administered by Council and managed by the Department of Land, Environment, Water and Planning (DELWP), is part of the Improving Public Visitor and Recreational Sites-Stimulus Program and will mark the 1st Stage of a broader goal aimed at revitalising the Wycheproof recreational areas.
The project will see the completion of the walking trail network through the Mount Wycheproof flora and fauna reserve, then loop into a Wetlands precinct to be established on the site of the disused Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater) storages.
Lighting, signage, furniture & tree planting will further revive the area, plus the addition of two new carparks – on Mount Street and Charles Street - will also improve visitor access.
Thanks to the support from GWMWater, the development of the Wetlands vicinity will provide the first stage or a much larger project to create a multi-faceted activity hub for community and visitor use. Picnic areas and a cycling track will complete the scope of a range of leisure-time opportunities.
*Artists Impressions supplied by Site Office Landscape Architecture
Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp said “This funding will help create even better visitor experiences in regional towns, which will also have positive economic and tourism benefits for the local community and wider region.”
Expressing excitement about the project, Buloke Mayor, Cr. Carolyn Stewart said ”The Walking Trail and Wetlands proposition is a wonderful opportunity for Wycheproof to showcase their truly unique natural feature of the world’s smallest mountain. This habitat and the spectacular views are something to be shared and boosting the recreational capabilities will assist in achieving that goal. In the post-COVID world the flow-on effect will benefit the local economy, and the health and well-being of the community will also be addressed with the increased distance added to the linked walking tracks. This is an exciting project for the town and one which will add to its already recognisable profile.”
Council has also committed $30,000 to the development of a master plan for the revitalisation of the Wycheproof Recreation Reserve. A community information session will be held later in the year (post stage 3 restrictions). This will be an open invitation to all residents to view proposed plans, ask questions and provide suggestions on the future layout of the recreation reserve.
The project is estimated to be completed by December 2021.
End release For further information contact Manager Customer Engagement, Travis Fitzgibbon on 03 5478 0181 or tfitzgibbon@buloke.vic.gov.au