ng LY ur ni Yo Win EK d- WE ar w
A AL C LO
THE ALPINE
BRIGHT - POREPUNKAH - MT BEAUTY - TAWONGA - TAWONGA SOUTH Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Phone: (03) 5752 1058
TAWONGA HALL
EMERGENCY SERVICES
PENNANT BOWLS
Public say on plans
Helipad for Porepunkah
Bright falls just short
Page 3
$1.50 (inc.GST)
www.alpineobserver.com.au
Page 7
Build it and they’ll come – on bicycles
SPORT
$1.3m to fund projects at Mystic Park By MARTIN DAVIS
By ANITA COIA LOCALS in Harrietville are already noticing the positive impacts of the recently completed Great Valley Trail, which extends 27 kilometres from Bright to Harrietville. The $2.6m project jointly funded by the federal ($1.3m), state ($800,000) and local ($500,00) governments to extend the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Victorian Alps was completed just prior to Christmas. Fiona Laird, owner and manager of the Mountain View Accommodation and Dolly coffee van, said there has been a noticeable increase in weekday cycling visitors to the town. “We have definitely noticed an increase in the number of customers at Dolly during the week - mainly older people on eBikes who’ve come from Bright,” she said. “It’s hard to know precisely but it’s probably a threefold increase. “It’s great for Harrietville and it will be particularly positive for our food and beverage businesses, who I think will see some growth in business.” Ross Larard, owner of the Harrietville Hotel Motel, also believes the trail will be a boon to the town. “Yes, we have noticed a steady influx of bicycle traffic, in particular families and friends riding out to town and many utilising the
ON THE MOVE: The 27km Great Valley Trail linking Bright to Harrietville has seen a constant flow of traffic over summer. PHOTO: Anita Coia venues we have on offer,” he said. “Both pubs, the cafes, the bakery and the coffee are all benefiting.” The popularity of the trail has prompted Mr Larard to install a bike repair station outside the pub as a community-based contribution at the Harrietville end of the bike trail. “It is being utilised by many, both locals and visitors, which brought much pleasure as it was a considerable investment,” he said.
“It has retractable quality tooling and a quality stainless steel inbuilt air pump plus bicycle hanger. “Oh and of course they can get a cold beer and or coffee and refreshment during their maintenance stop,” he laughed. Bennett Mountjoy, owner of the Snowline Hotel, said he is amazed at the number of people using the trail already. “We’ve already noticed there are extra cyclists for lunch on Saturdays and
Sundays,” he said. “The trail is attracting a ‘broad church’ – everyone from retirees to local families.” He believes the quality of the trail is part of the reason it is popular, as the surface - an asphalt product which contains a significant amount of recycled rubber and glass in the mix - gives a very smooth and comfortable ride for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Ross Larard agrees.
“The big comment we are hearing is the smoothness of the pathway itself. It seems to be a stand out,” he said. Mr Mountjoy is currently planning to offer a shuttle service for cycling visitors who want to make a day of it, with lunch at the Snowline as part of the package. “I’ve cycled many rail trails and paths and this is definitely one of the best in the country – it’s so scenic, with views of Feathertop,” he said.
MYSTIC Park in Bright will undergo some significant improvements courtesy of a $1.3 million grant funded through the Federal Government‘s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program. Alpine Community Plantation (ACP) executive officer, Nick Gall, said Senator Bridget McKenzie’s office had confirmed the successful application. ACP, with support of Alpine Shire, recently consulted with the community to develop a masterplan for Mystic Park, and identified four main projects that will benefit the traffic in and out of the park. The Mystic Park projects include: • a new vehicular river crossing to improve rider safety; • upgrading the park access road network for private and commercial shuttle traffic that addresses current safety and community traffic concerns; • improved facilities for community users, MTB, pilots and trail runners; and • additional top to bottom flow trail to complement the existing popular Hero Trail and Shred Kelly‘s Last Stand. Mr Gall said the ACP board will now refine the scope of the project and “consult with the local residents and stakeholders to ensure we deliver a sustainable outcome for all going forward”. Work on the upgrades is expected to begin at the end of April with the project hoping to be completed by May 2024, with no disruptions set to impact the community and users of the park.
MYRTLEFORD BUSH MARKET & more SUNDAY 13th March 9.00am – 2.30pm Recreational Reserve O’Donnell Ave MYRTLEFORD
New stallholders welcome Free Balloon animals for the little ones, Live Entertainment throughout the day Lots of stalls under the shady avenue of trees Supported by:
Stall and general enquiries to the Bush Market phone: 0423504616 please leave a message if phone unattended
EŽǁ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝƐĞĚ ĨƵŶĞƌĂů ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ DLJƌƚůĞĨŽƌĚ͕ ůƉŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ tĂŶŐĂƌĂƩĂ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ ϭϲϲ DLJƌƚůĞ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ͕ DLJƌƚůĞĨŽƌĚ
Ϭϯ ϱϳϱϮ Ϯϵϵϱ
ǁǁǁ͘ĐŽŶǁĂLJĨƵŶĞƌĂůŚŽŵĞ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ
:ĂLJƐŽŶ ,Ăůů