Kennett River Nature Walk opens

THE Kennett River Nature Walk is now up and running.

The $50,000 project was supported by $20,000 from the Coalition Government’s Stronger Communities Program, and was officially opened by Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson earlier this month.

The path begins next to the Great Ocean Road at the first fishing platform near the bridge, and follows the river Kennet up through the valley.

The walk aims to provide an educational experience for visitors, and now includes 14 interpretive signs with hand-drawn images by Anglesea artist Georgina Whitehead. It has a number of wildlife viewing platforms and photo opportunities.

The Kennett River Association (KRA) championed the project, and KRA President Geoff Quinn said the project was a great example of how a community could lead a project from the ground up and achieve a wonderful end result.

“This is Kennett River at its best.

“This has really been the vision of locals, community and the KRA to actually make a place that people could really understand, learn about and enjoy.”

As well as the Coalition funding, the KRA also secured $10,000 from Regional Development Victoria through the Bushfire and Economic Recovery Fund, $8,000 from the Colac Otway Shire Small Town Improvement Plan funding, $5,000 from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority’s National Landcare Program and $2,000 from Otway Coast Tourism, a well as $5,000 of its own funds.

Ms Henderson said the Coalition was providing another $1.9 million to Kennett River for car parking and toilet facilities through its City Deal initiative.