03 5662 2294 www.thestar.com.au Tuesday, October 29, 2019
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RIDING TO A RECORD Our rail trail could be Australia’s longest - and it all starts today T HE extension of the Great Southern Rail Trail is expected to create a tourist boom.
Tenders close today for the removal of tracks, ballast and sleepers along the disused rail line between Leongatha and Korumburra, ahead of the extension of the trail to Korumburra. While South Gippsland Shire Council is expecting a sizeable lift to the local economy with an even larger influx of visitors, they say the grand plan of an eventual 168km long trail
would have the region buzzing with activity. The completed path would open up our region to Melbourne’s east, with a trail running all the way from Clyde to Yarram. The rail trail plan is backed by a number of neighbouring councils and Destination Gippsland, who see the region as Victoria’s undiscovered gem. The tourism body’s projections have visitor numbers at 8.5 million annually to Gippsland by 2030, up from the current base of 7.06
million. If this growth potential is realised, total visitor spending could increase from $1 billion to $1.5 billion. While they won’t all be trekking down the rail trail, excited tourist operators, shopkeepers and food and beverage businesses can only see the benefits. SEE THE STORY ON PAGE 5.
ON TRACK: Local cyclist Bruce Beatson loves getting out on the Great Southern Rail Trail.
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