Funding announced for Camperdown to Timboon trail.

Pat Robertson, Chairman of the Camperdown to Timboon rail trail committee, began the formalities with a short speech of welcome. She also outlined the need for further improvements to be made to the trail. The Glenfyne hall is about halfway along the trail and was donated to the committee a few years back. An enthusiastic group have repaired and painted it, fitted it with a new kitchen, and are keen to hire it out to raise funds for developing and maintaining the trail. Toilet facilities need to be built  in order to lease the hall. Pat called 2013 the ‘the year of the toilet’.

Mr Terry Mulder, MP, Member for Polwarth, Minister for Public Transport, addressed the gathering and promised a grant of $105,000 for improvements to the hall and trail as part of the “‘Putting Locals First Program” of Regional Development Victoria. Plans are already drawn and approved, ready to add toilets to the hall, a disabled access ramp,  a storage shed, water tanks, improved lighting and an electric BBQ. There will also be money for signage on the trail and for two new shelters at the Curdies and Brucknell station sites. Terry Mulder congratulated the dedicated group for the work already achieved in improving the trail.

The Mayor of Corangamite Shire, Mr Chris O’Connor, added his congratulations to the committee and promised to help when funding became available. Formalities were followed by a country spread with tea and coffee.

In the recent months shelters have been erected at the Naroghid and Glenfyne station sites. The committee have also started to address the problem of the heavily wooded area between Glenfyne and Curdies bridge. This 4-5km section is difficult for the workers to access because of the dense bush and river crossings. Recently large amounts of tuff (volcanic ash) have been used to fill between the existing rails, covering  the rotting sleeper, providing a good surface which packs down firmly like concrete. This is a continuing project  A board walk is also being built across a wet area caused by leaking springs near Curdies bridge.Thirty meters of the 100 meter walk has been completed.

Click here for Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail map and description