Batesford gets back to nature

FOLLOWING the completion of the Riverstone Estate, the Ramsey Property Group has handed the Moorabool River Reserve over to the Golden Plains Shire.

As of last Wednesday, and more than a century in private hands, the green space can now be freely enjoyed by Batesford locals.

Ramsey Property Group director Samantha Ramsey and Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Gavin Gamble officially marked the handover with a ribbon cutting.

“We commenced the first stage of this project way back in 2008, working with landowner families to deliver a community that reflects this incredibly beautiful natural environment,” Ms Ramsey said.

“Now some 15 years later, we have completed the project, families have moved in and made it their home and we couldn’t be more delighted.

“It is always our goal to leave a legacy of respect for the land and we are so proud, with our landowner families… some of whom have held this land since the 1870s, to be able to gift this beautiful place of peace and tranquillity to the people of Batesford, and the residents of Riverstone to enjoy for the very first time.”

Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Nikki McKenzie led a Welcome to Country at the handover event, where there was also a cleansing smoking ceremony.

Cr Gamble said the morning was a special one on the banks of the Moorabool.

“The River Reserve… will link and further add to Batesford’s very special and unique character, with its contrasting elemental space of the Dog Rocks granite and rare greenstone to its intimate river reserve trails and ecosystems, which community groups, individuals and Golden Plains Shire have put a lot of resources and care into over many years,” he said.

“This river is a natural treasure of our region and I know the Reserve and the open space here will be appreciated and enjoyed by the community for many generations and for many, many years to come.”