Hindmarsh Council adopts Wimmera River Discovery Trail masterplan

Hindmarsh Shire councillors believe the proposed Wimmera River Discovery Trail is one of the biggest projects the region has seen.

At a meeting on Friday, councillors decided to implement the first stage of the project, formerly known as the Hindmarsh Trail master-plan and to lobby for funding. 

The proposed trail will run for 130 kilometres from Horseshoe Bend on the Wimmera River at Dimboola to just south of Wyperfeld National Park. 

The first stage will be the creation of a 57-kilometre trail between Dimboola and Four Mile Beach on Lake Hindmarsh.

Cr Tony Schneider said creating the trail would benefit the region for decades to come. 

“I think it’s a really, really exciting project,” he said.

“It will be a fantastic project for our shire.”

The trail will bring up to 30,000 people to the shire each year. 

Cr Schneider said the project would benefit the region as much as Project Hindmarsh did when it was introduced. “This can take us into the future and we can grow on that success,” he said.

“The benefits of this project will be stretched across the region. It takes people off the highway and through the shire.”

The council feasibility study estimated the entire trail from Horseshoe Bend to Lake Albacutya would cost $3.5 million, plus about $110,000 a year to maintain. 

About 14 full time positions would be created during construction if done over a year, and 4.7 if constructed over three years. More than 37 full time positions would be generated after construction. 

The study said the trail would bring $1.7 million directly into the Wimmera economy annually, and $1.6 million indirectly. 

Cr Schneider said the trail would join existing assets and towns to showcase the region. He called on his fellow councillors to get behind the project and lobby hard to ensure funding was secured. 

“We can do something fantastic with the great assets we have,” he said. 

“It could be our own Great South West Walk or Wilson’s Prom walk.

“People always ask who would go on those walks? 

“But people do go and they bring economic benefits.”

Acting chief executive Anne Champness suggested bringing the tourism minister, relevant bodies and regional members to walk a section of the lake and experience first hand what council has envisioned. 

Crs Ron Gersch said he has seen a state and federal push towards tourism.

“We have to strike while the iron is hot,” he said. 

“The time is now to have a real crack at this because the government is keen and small rural councils are seeing tourism, not as a saviour, but as a way to help hang on to what we have and expand.

“When we have the opportunity we need to get this on every single strategic plan in the region.

“It’s imperative. The government supports things if it’s in the big picture.”

Deputy mayor Wendy Robins said the next step needed to engage the community so they understand the positives of the plan.

“People think it’s just money for a walk,” she said.

“It’s really important to sell it to people first, so we all sing in the same voice. Then go out and secure funds.

“They would be just as passionate as us if they were brought along with the story.