A PARCEL of land in Mount Clear has been purchased by the City of Ballarat with the aim of bridging a gap in the Buninyong rail trail.<\/p>\n
Located at 55 Recreation Road the triangular, pine-filled block of land, which also includes remnants of a heritage wooden rail bridge, was previously owned by the Victorian School Building Authority and is in a rural conservation zone which cannot be developed.<\/p>\n
With City assistance, Friends of Canadian Corridor will be able to proceed with a proposed project to preserve what\u2019s left of the historic railway line and surrounding native bushland.<\/p>\n
Lobbying for the purchase since 2019, FOCC secretary Jeff Rootes said the goal is to create an all-abilities accessible public walking trail along the old line\u2019s embankment, which will connect to the Canadian Creek, Woowookarung Regional Park, and Mount Clear\u2019s school and sporting precinct.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just over two years since we spotted an auction sign, and we approached Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle to pause that auction, pending a proposal. The rest is now history,\u201d Mr Rootes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are landowners, and 10 local community groups involved in the project, including Mount Clear College, walking and cycle groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout their strong support, the goodwill and encouragement of councillors and council officers, and Michaela, we would never have got off first base.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once the trail is established, Mr Rootes said it will fill a gap in the \u201cBunny trail loop,\u201d which begins at the Eureka Centre, travelling through Woowookarung to Mount Clear.<\/p>\n
There is potential for that trail to go onto Buninyong via Olympic Avenue, across the easement of the Regional Park\u2019s gorge, over Greenhill Road, behind Federation University\u2019s Mount Helen Campus, and into Union Jack Reserve.<\/p>\n
Ms Settle said the volunteer members of FOCC are invaluable advocates for the Regional Park\u2019s flora, fauna and history, and the broader Buninyong electorate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pleased to support their request to see Ballarat council purchase this piece of Education Department land,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important piece of the puzzle, as it opens up space for the trail between the Eureka Centre and Mount Clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat CEO Evan King said the land purchase has been a successful team effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City… has collaborated with various community groups to purchase the land at 55 Recreation Road from the Department of Treasury and Finance, to provide the 410-metre-long trail connection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Ballarat is committed to continuing to work with community groups to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the trail.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A PARCEL of land in Mount Clear has been purchased by the City of Ballarat with the aim of bridging a gap in the Buninyong rail trail. Located at 55 Recreation Road the triangular, pine-filled block of land, which also includes remnants of a heritage wooden rail bridge, was previously owned by the Victorian School […]<\/p>\n