Committee of Management Inc

Mike Ryan describes the Nowa Nowa Mountain Bike facility at the May meeting of the Friends of the Rail Trail . Visit their Website for more information

Burn Rd Update

In June 2009 a shelter plus planting and mulching was made at the Burn Rd car park at the Orbost end of the trail. This small image shows how it looked in June 2009.

Over the last 10 months and particularly over summer the growth of the plantings and the weeds has been greater than we expected. On April 13 a team from corrective services and a few friend volunteers weeded and remulched the area. This photo shows the difference 10 months growth and a day's labour can achieve.

COUNCIL BACKS PUSH TO MARKET RAIL TRAIL

Following a submission from the Rail Trail management committee seeking funding for a marketing and promotion position, the Shire Council has accepted a recommendation from the Economic Development Advisory Board and allocated $25,000 to assist with a marketing drive. 'The Trail committee is greatly heartened by Council's support for a more professional marketing program' said Michael Oxer, Trail committee chairperson, following the Council vote on Tuesday night. 'Virtually all efforts so far to promote the Trail have depended on community volunteer effort, especially in development and management of the trail's web site, and preparation of the information brochure and map' Mr Oxer added.

Oversight of this new marketing program will be a partnership between the Council's Major Projects and Economic Development Unit and the Trail committee. A number of activities and projects were suggested in the committee's submission, including targeting schools, cycling, walking and equestrian groups, enhancing the web site, revising trail notes, and special events which attract new visitors to East Gippsland. 'Decisions have yet to be made on details for carrying out this exciting new development for the Trail'

Would you like to help?

The Rail Trail Management Committee is keen to have more assistance and invites expressions of interest from anyone interested in joining the team. The salary is outstanding - zilch! 'Hours' are very flexible. The tasks and issues involved are very interesting and often even challenging, with plenty of variety. Formal meetings are bi-monthly. Email is a primary way to share information, etc. Representation from the Orbost end of the Trail will be an advantage. Interest in marketing and promotion matters would be highly valued.To learn more just email a note via this web site, to the Chairman.

New pathway near Bairnsdale entrance

The Shire Council has recently replaced a rough pathway near the Hadfield Street link with a new concrete surface. It is part of a wider linking pathways upgrade for the East Bairnsdale area.

Volunteers repair a vandalised gate

Incidents of wanton vandalism of infrastructure on the Trail leave damage which diverts effort from other important work. Recently several gateways have been damaged on the newer (since 2006) Nowa Nowa to Orbost section. A gatepost at Joiners Road (western crossing) has been repaired by volunteer members of the Friends Association. Thanks to them and all the other helpers who pitch in to help keep the Trail in good shape.

Adventurous Journey

A group of four students Joanne Rogers, Nathan Dubbeld, Nathan Young and Emma Clark walked the railtrail from Saturday through Tuesday. They had initially hoped to finish the entire walk but had to finish at Bruthen on the last day because of blisters. They did the walk as their final adventurous journey for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh that they're hoping to be presented with at the end of this year.They are all year twelve students at the Warragul Regional College and have been doing Duke of Edinborough for several years now.

The walk began with mild weather and they walked all the way through to Partellis Crossing Road. Day two began ok but started to get really wild and a lady from Parks Victoria told them that it was too dangerous to be walking so by 12 o'clock they had to pack it in and went to Lakes for the afternoon. Day three was still quite cool and windy but barely a drop of rain. There were several fallen trees that were too heavy to be moved. Day four was beautiful blue sky as they walked into Bruthen.

Places to take care

There are several places where visitors do need to take special care. The access points each end of the Stony Creek bridge are steep, especially the eastern side but that was last year treated with a roughened concrete screed to ensure stability and stop erosion. It should be obvious to any visitor that these inclines are to be taken with care. The other potential 'problem' location on this section is at Drivers Break, a large cutting just west of Nowa Nowa which had collapsed several years ago following the laying of the interstate gas pipeline. A great deal of cost and effort has been expended to try and halt the erosion and provide a reasonable path. It is just a couple of hundred metres long. At times here it can mean walking bikes rather than riding.

At any time if a problem is encountered on this Trail the details can be reported to the Committee via the email Comment facility on this site.