Mitchell Shire – Victoria’s rail trail hub?

Could Mitchell Shire become Victoria’s rail trail hub? That is the focus of an article in Mitchell Shire Council’s Winter News. The Mitchell Shire will be looking to the State Government for funding, which would enable a feasibility study to be conducting into the proposed Wallan-Wandong to Heathcote Rail Trail.

Regional Victorian cycle tourism business

While the recently completed Gippsland Plans Rail Trail finally has connection to V/Line passenger train service at both trail heads, the proposed Wallan to Heathcote Rail Trail could provide more opportunities for Victoria.

Regional Victoria benefits from rail trail cycle tourism

With a Wallan to Heathcote Rail Trail linked with the O’Keefe Rail Trail, this rail trail combination would be the only Victorian long distance 100+km (being approx 120kms) with passenger train services plus main road freeways at its trail heads. This is exactly what major national and international trail related tourist companies seek. And not only would both these trails be interconnected, they could be linked with the Great Victorian Rail Trail, the Murchison to Rushworth Rail Trail, the Bendigo Bushland Trail, the Bendigo Creek Trail, the Goldfields Track Victoria and more! A network of regional trails!

Could the Craigieburn Bypass Trail (metro Melbourne trail network) be connected to Wallan, and a regional trail network? Now this would create a new ‘gold rush’ for regional Victoria!