Work begins on Barwon River path in Winchelsea

WORK has begun on the Barwon River pathway loop in Winchelsea.

The creation of the 1.3-kilometre path will include the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Hesse Street and a boardwalk under the Barwon River Bridge.

Winchelsea Ward councillor James McIntyre said the pathway would benefit the community in various ways.

“The 2015 Growing Winchelsea Strategy identified a ‘Barwon River loop walk’ as the highest infrastructure priority for the town. The new pathway will connect to the shops as well as the park.

“The Barwon River Reserve is such a special place and this project aims to reach a balance between preserving the natural beauty of the area and allowing residents to make more use of it.”

Gravel paths will be constructed along the Colac side of the river from Willis Street to Armytage Street, and on the Geelong side from Railway Bridge to Hesse Street.

A concrete pathway will also be constructed to connect the new pathway to the existing one under the highway bridges.

Fellow Winchelsea Ward councillor Heather Wellington also noted the path’s design had been shaped by the community.

“We’ve heard from locals that they really wanted to highlight the natural values of the reserve. The path will mostly be gravel, designed to blend in with the existing landscape as much as possible.

“The Barwon River is a wonderful asset for Winchelsea and it’s great to be investing in infrastructure that is accessible to everybody and encourages enjoyment of the environment and physical fitness. The pathway will become a key feature that is sure to get plenty of use by residents and visitors alike.”

The $451,000 project is being fully funded by the Surf Coast Shire council.