Wimmera River Discovery Trail on backburner

Hindmarsh Shire Council proposed the project last year, and hopes to develop a 130-kilometre walking and cycling trail from Horseshoe Bend at Dimboola to just south of Wyperfeld National Park. 

Council voted in July last year to implement the first stage of the project, which includes a master plan and lobbying for funding.

Council estimates the trail could inject $3.3 million into the region’s economy each year.

Hindmarsh mayor Debra Nelson said the project had not progressed.

“We had to choose our priorities for putting in for funding this year, and our priorities were the Dimboola Library and the Albacutya bridge,” she said.

“We thought they were probably more important at this stage than pursuing funding for the trail.

“It's certainly on our radar, and when I went to Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association conference last month, I still spoke about it and the pollies seemed to be very interested in that one.

“Here's hoping we might get some funding when we put our application in.

“I mentioned the project last year in Canberra, but there seemed to be a lot more interest this year, which was fantastic.”

A council feasibility study estimated the trail would cost $3.5 million, plus about $110,000 a year to maintain. 

About 14 full-time positions would be created during construction if the trail was built in one year, and the equivalent of 4.7 full-time positions if it was 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.