PREMIER Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford in the Grampians on Friday to officially open stage one of the Grampians Peaks Trail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Destined to become one of Victoria's leading tourism attractions, stage one of the trail involved construction of a three-day, two-night, 36-kilometre loop walk around Halls Gap, Mount Rosea camping area, Bugiga Campsite and Borough Huts.
Detailed track design and signage was undertaken with construction of 3.5 kilometres of track from Halls Gap to Rosea Campsite, the Bugiga Campsite, a footbridge at Fyans Creek, and a 10-kilometre track upgrade between Rosea Campsite and Borough Huts.
While declaring stage one open, Mr Andrews also reaffirmed the State Government's $19 million budget commitment towards stage two of the project.
"These are not costs, these are investments, really strong and proud investments for the future," he said.
"Stage two is now fully funded, which means that it can be a continuous build.
"That's great for jobs, great for tourism, it is wonderful that so many people can enjoy what is one of the most beautiful locations anywhere in the world."
The trail is expected to create 35 full-time jobs, generate 86,000 visitor nights in the region and boost the local economy by $6.4 million per year.
"I think it can be many more than that," Mr Andrews said.
"I think that if you get the infrastructure right, that if you make the investments then there are no limits to the number of people from around our nation and around our world that will want to come and share in this five-star environment.
"I think it would be unwise for us to put any limits on just how successful this investment is going to be."
Ms Pulford has been a fierce advocate of the project. She said parts of the track will be accessible to people with prams and wheelchairs.
"This is a fabulous project, it has captured the imagination of people in communities the length and breadth of the Grampians," she said.
"The people who have designed and worked so hard on this project are very conscious of the need to make this accessible to people with prams and wheelchairs."
Ms Pulford said the project was also about driving opportunities in new tourism activities.
"For people who want to go 'glamping' and want a fairly expensive two week experience where at the end of the night somebody has made their bed for them, that will be available.
"For people who want to grab the kids and throw them in the car for a normal length weekend, then that will be possible.
"This is about driving a new tourism product in Victoria, the kind of product that we know people will travel from the other side of the world to participate in."
When complete the 144 kilometre trail will connect some of the Grampians' most spectacular peaks, from the massive sandstone outcrops around Mount Zero in the north to Mount Abrupt overlooking the Dunkeld township and the surrounding volcanic plains in the south.
A Masterplan for the Grampians Peaks Trail was completed by Grampians Tourism, together with Parks Victoria during 2014.