The City of Greater Bendigo council’s proposed 2022/2023 Budget has been made public for community feedback. In a media release by the council’s Mayor and CEO, this included a statement that “The proposed Budget includes a car park and toilet at Longlea Lane on the O’Keefe Rail Trail…”

Council has indicated that “The project will detail design and construct a 16 vehicle gravel carpark, 2 accessible & unisex toilets, shelter, seating, bike racks and a rainwater tank for community members to rest or begin their journey along the O’Keefe Rail Trail.”

City of Greater Bendigo’s media release

The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail community group have been seeking council’s support for such a trail facility for a number of years, which is due in part to the popularity of the trail’s Longlea location. While it is indicated that this project is being allocated $250,000, council now seeks community feedback on its whole proposed budget, before a final version of the budget is adopted at council’s 20th June meeting. Feedback (and support for this O’Keefe Rail Trail project) can be made via Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo (https://bit.ly/36FQ9f6) until 5pm on Monday 16th May.