By Derek Schlennstedt
A new cycling and walking track that would link the existing trail near Woori Yallock to Healesville, Yarra Glen and Lilydale has been shown to the public in initial consultation meetings at Healesville and Yarra Glen.
The design presentation displayed an overview of the proposed Yarra Valley Trail Master Plan and presented preliminary concepts of the main trail zones, alignments and features.
It is reported the trail would run close to Yarra Valley tourist drawcards such as Healesville Sanctuary, Yering Station winery and other popular locations.
Consultation meetings took place on 20 and 21 March both at Healesville and Yarra Glen.
In April last year, Yarra Ranges Council released a feasibility study to the public and allocated $550,000 from unallocated money in the Capital Expenditure Program towards detailed designs of the trail.
A year later, these detailed plans are now being presented to the public after council engaged Cox Architecture to develop a Master Plan on the proposed Yarra Valley Trail.
The Mail spoke to Tony Rowley, senior architect of the Yarra Valley Master Plan who said the main priority for the trail was safety.
“The target audience who would be using the trail are families, so we want to ensure that it’s completely safe.
“We want it to be safe, flat, and able to be used by a wide demographic,” he said.
The ‘Yarra Valley trail’ as it’s being called would provide people living in Healesville and Yarra Glen an option to commute to Lilydale and would also give international visitors the opportunity to see the entirety of the Yarra Valley without the need for a car.
“It’s all about, the Yarra Valley trail, getting people out of their cars and giving them a way to experience and explore the region in a more intimate way … .it has all sorts of positive outcomes from health, to tourism and spending in the region,” Mr Rowley said.
Feasibility studies released in April 2016 estimated the total cost of the project at $10.6 million.
It was projected that it would also bring 210,040 visitors annually, provide 222 new jobs and would generate $30 million as a result.
Around 50 people attended each consultation meeting to hear and voice any suggestions or concerns they had about the trail.
The feedback was mostly positive, but, popular concerns raised included security for landowners and businesses, where the trail would run adjacent or through their properties.
Tarrawarra Estate is one of the many landholders with security concerns, and some of the proposed trail options put forward run next to, or through their property.
Terry Christofides of Tarrawarra Estate says that they are comfortable and happy with having a trail that connects Lilydale to Healesville and Yarra Glen, but are concerned about security risks that it may pose to the property.
“We’re comfortable with the principle of a walking trail and bike track that connects Lilydale to Healesville via Yarra Glen, however we will be strongly objecting to any option that places our private property at risk from a security perspective,” he says.
“If it’s not coming through or adjacent, we’re happy to see the pathway progressed, for example, as highlighted in one of the trail options where it runs alongside the roadways.”
These options are being explored by Cox Architecture, who will continue consulting and working with communities and parties involved to determine the most viable route for the project.
All the options are still in their infancy, and a spokesperson for Yarra Ranges Council highlights that no final route has yet been approved.
“No final alignment of the Yarra Valley Trail has been approved and residents should check back at yarraranges.vic.gov.au for more information as the trail project develops.”
