Bridge over troubling waters

By Dion Teasdale
THE Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail will be given a major boost with the construction of a $1.8 million cycling and foot pedestrian bridge over the Maroondah Highway.
Evelyn MP Heather McTaggart announced funding for the project last week, saying the bridge would provide a continuous bike trail from Lilydale Station to Warburton.
She said $1.3 million had been allocated for the project in the recent State Budget and that the bridge would be built near the corner of Queen Road in Lilydale.
The rest of the funding will come from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, who will contribute $580,000 to the project, and the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail committee.
“The Maroondah Highway currently puts a big gap in the bike trail and makes it hard for many children to ride to school,” Ms McTaggart said.
“I am delighted that we are going to fix this so that, for the first time, secondary school children from Mt Evelyn will be able to ride easily to the station and secondary schools in Lilydale.
“And we will attract many more people to visit the Yarra Valley for day bike rides from Lilydale to Warburton along the Rail Trail.”
Ms McTaggart said detailed design and costing work was currently being undertaken for the project and that the plans would be made available for public comment.
Shire of Yarra Ranges chief executive, Rob Hauser, said the shire was delighted with the announcement of State Government funding for the project.
“This is great news for the Yarra Ranges,” he said. “When this project is complete we will have one continuous trail stretching from Lilydale Station all the way to Warburton, ensuring the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail remains one of the most popular trails in the state.”
Rail Trail Committee of Management spokeswoman, Liz Tunnecliffe, said volunteers were ecstatic when they heard the funding news.
“This bridge will be the biggest and best thing that has happened to tourism in this region since the rail trail was opened from Wandin to Warburton in 1998,” she said.
“We expect businesses throughout the length of the trail to benefit from this link and anticipate numbers using the trail to at least double.”