Grampians Peak Trail: Premier Daniel Andrews opens stage one

Mr Andrews and Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford visited the Bugiga campsite on Friday to officially open stage one of the project.

The state government is providing $19million towards stage two.

The federal government committed $10million to the trail in its budget.

Stage one included detailed track design and signs, 3.5 kilometres of track from Halls Gap to Rosea Campsite, construction of the Bugiga Campsite, construction of a footbridge at Fyans Creek and a 10-kilometre track upgrade between Rosea Campsite and Borough Huts.

Mr Andrews said there were no limits to how successful the trail could be.

‘‘There’s talk of between 35 to 100 jobs in terms of tourism operators. I think it can be many more than that,’’ he said.

‘‘If you get the infrastructure right – if you make the investments – there’s no limits to the number of people from around our nation and the world who will want to come and share in a five-star environment and an amazing experience.

‘‘This is a unique place in the world and we are now getting on with building the infrastructure that our international friends want – in a competitive market – to make the decision to visit here.

‘‘They visit, they spend, they invest. That’s great for jobs and it’s great for the prosperity of communities like this.’’

Mr Andrews said the $29 million from state and federal governments would ensure the trail could be built from start to finish with no gaps in construction.

‘‘It will take some time. This is more than 100 kilometres of trails, as well as camping sites,’’ he said.

Member for Mallee Andrew Broad has called for the project to be completed within two years, despite Grampians Tourism chief executive Will Flamsteed sticking to a 2019 completion date.

Mr Andrews said there was no reason why it could not be completed within the shorter time-frame.

‘‘I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t work towards that,’’ he said.

‘‘We should work as hard as we possibly can. I’m confident just as stage one has been properly delivered, we’ll get on and deliver stage two as quickly as we can.’’

Ms Pulford said the trail, which would span from Mt Zero to Dunkeld, would create new jobs for people in surrounding towns.

‘‘This is also about driving opportunities in new tourism activities,’’ she said.

‘‘This is the kind of product we know people will travel from the other side of the world to participate in.’’

● MR ANDREWS also visited Ararat on Friday to confirm $350,000 towards an Ararat Outdoor Olympic Swimming Pool upgrade.

The refurbishment will allow the pool to re-open, four years after its closure.