By Melissa Meehan
TRANSFORMATION of the Warburton Water Wheel building and extensive landscaping of its surroundings is being promoted as a major boost for tourism and environmental projects in Warburton.
Warburton Highway Tourism Inc will relocate from the first floor to the ground floor of the refurbished building, enabling the Natural Resource Conservation League to take up the first floor lease.
The internet and computer facility Warburton Online will move to the Mechanics Institute Hall.
The whole project includes major landscaping works, including the construction of an outdoor amphitheatre with gently sloping grass banks, extending existing decking to create space for an outdoor cafe and other uses, creating paths and ramps, installing historical story panels in walls next to the ramps, planting native trees and shrubs, creating a picnic area, and incorporating other landscaping features in stages over two years.
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor Monika Keane said the landscaping and building refurbishment will transform the Water Wheel precinct into a major attraction for the township.
“The landscaping is very exciting and the refurbishment is great news for tourism in Warburton,” Cr Keane said. “The ground floor street-front location for Warburton Highway Tourism will give the organisation a real boost, as well as being beneficial for local artists and traders.”
She said that Warburton Highway Tourism would be more accessible to visitors and locals.
“It will work from a beautifully fitted-out premises, which will encourage people to drop in and discover what Warburton and its surrounding districts have to offer tourists,” Cr Keane said.
“The new premises will also have plenty of room for local artists to exhibit their works and products for sale. Visiting the Warburton Water Wheel will be a tourist attraction in itself, with its paths, lawns, amphitheatre, history panels and picnic area.”
The National Resources Conservation League (NRCL), which will set up on the first floor of the Water Wheel building, runs environmental education programs for primary, secondary and tertiary students.
The league’s new premises will include a classroom and an interactive tourism display with a hidden forest.
NRCL will also retain elements of the existing historical information, which it will incorporate into its display.
The landscaping project will go out to tender in late June.
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