By Dongyun Kwon
The long-time project is getting into the next phase as the councillors awarded a tender for the project.
Yarra Ranges councillors agreed unanimously to award the nearly $3 million tender for the Yarra Valley Trail (YVT) Stage 1B.2.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister moved the recommendation, saying this is an important stage in the project.
“Over its journey, I think (it’s) important to remember that with the delays in funding, funding withdrawals and escalating costs, we find ourselves able to build, through the awarding of this tender, the remaining piece of the trail to get us to Yarra River not quite to Yarra Glen,” she said.
“As I said, construction of three bridges, repurposing of a beautiful historic timber trestle bridge pathways, 2.7km of fencing, stock access gates for property owners who have stock that need to travel across the trail, (are) an important step in the process, not quite where we want to be, but at this stage, we don’t have the funding to build what will be a very significant piece in the trail network to take Lilydale through Yarra Glen connection right through to Yarra Glen.
“To get to this point, Yarra Ranges has contributed about a third of the funding. The rest has come both from the state and federal governments to give us the next step, which will support not just tourists but the local community and also the local economy, substantially, and we will be seeking additional funding.”
Through this contract, the council will commence the construction of a new 1.5km long shared path trail along the alignment of the former Healesville Railway Line, starting at the end of the existing path 1.2 kilometres north of MacIntyre Lane, Yering and finishing at the end of the existing earth railway viaduct 50 metres from the Yarra River, Yering.
The motion was seconded by Cr Tim Heenan.
He pointed out the grand vision of the Yarra Valley Trail project is to connect the track through Yarra Glen and Healesville to the Warburton Rail Trail.
The contract will include the following:
Demolition and removal of remaining railway sleepers, railway line and fixtures including stockpiling of steel for future heritage railway reuse.
Detailed design certified by a structural engineer including demolition, testing, strengthening and re-construction methodology for the one existing timber trestle bridge.
Detailed design by a certified structural engineer for three replacement bridges.
Repair, strengthening and reconstruction of one historic timber trestle railway bridge.
Replacement of three former railway bridges destroyed in the 2009 bushfires with new 3.2-metre-wide bridges.
Construction of approximately 1.35 kilometres of 3 metres wide crushed rock path, with crushed rock shoulders.
Installation of approximately 2.7 kilometres of partial barrier timber and wire fencing on either side of the crushed rock path along the earth viaduct.
Fencing to include stock evacuation gates.
