THE much anticipated 32.7km Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail was officially opened last week.
More than 50 people gathered in Yackandandah for the ceremonial ribbon cutting by Indigo Shire Mayor Sophie Price and Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes.
Cr Price paid tribute to former Indigo Shire CEO, the late Gerry Smith, who was a key driver in securing the funds required to turn what was an ambitious concept into a reality.
“The idea for this trail, which extends to Osbornes Flat, was first flagged as far back as 2010 and through the determination of Gerry Smith and the council of the day, we secured $5.2m in State Government funding in 2017 to enable this project to get underway,” she said.
Indigo Shire has also made a significant financial contribution to the project, investing close to $2m as well as leading the project delivery.
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“While the trail has been open for some time, today’s official opening provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the many stakeholders, community groups and individuals who have played a significant role in the design and construction of this project,” Cr Price said.
“The trail is projected to attract an additional 7660 visitors to the region annually, supporting the creation of 28 ongoing jobs and stimulating $3.1m in visitor spending in the region per annum.”
Cr Price said the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail, in tandem with the Indigo Epic mountain bike trail, now offers two phenomenal, unique cycling experiences to connect the historic towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah.
Ms Symes said she could not have been prouder of the Indigo Shire community for its commitment to make the project a reality.
"You're activating an area that is well known for snow sports and winter sports to ensure that year-round, you are creating an opportunity and a drawcard for people from right around the world," she said.
"When it comes to bikes, it has been demonstrated that it is a massive opportunity to inject massive amounts of economic tourism in the way that it attracts people.
"What we know is that when visitors come to a place like Yackandandah and Beechworth, experience the rail trails, they often return and return for longer, often with friends, and that means they're spending more money and supporting local businesses."
In addition, Indigo Shire now has a substantial critical mass of cycling trails to connect one side of Indigo Shire to the other via existing gravel cycling networks.
