26 March 2013 - Nillumbik Shire Council

AC.008/13 Recreational Trails Advisory CommitteeAttachmentalignment between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen and then an ‘on-road’ alignmentbetween Wattle Glen and Diamond Creek. Officers are recommending that a‘Copenhagen style barrier’ be considered for the ‘on-road’ section which wouldprovide some separation between trail users and road users.Officers are suggesting that while the longer term vision of the trail along the creekalignment remain and be progressed as land becomes available, the detailed designprocess for the road alignment should also be progressed to achieve ‘shelf-ready’status in order to take advantage of funding opportunities if they arise.There was a considerable amount of discussion regarding the alignment options.Some RTAC members believe that if the road alignment is achieved, the creekalignment will not progress.Darren requested a recommendation from RTAC to present to Council so a decisioncan be made on which alignment to pursue.A vote was put to the committee and all but two members supported the creekalignment therefore the committee did not support the officer’s proposal of a roadalignment for the extension of the Diamond Creek TrailRTAC Recommendation – that Council pursue the creek alignment for the trailbetween Diamond Creek and Hurstbridge as the preferred alignment for aregional trail.7. Local LinksRTAC members have previously provided officers with individual priorities for localtrail development. This has been consolidated by officers with estimate costsattached.Officers will be presenting a report to Council in April to request that Council allocatea modest amount of money on an annual basis to ensure that local trail links can bedelivered while funds for regional trails are pursued through a regional approach withother Councils.RTAC Recommendation – that Council allocate $60,000 per annum todeveloping local trail links as identified in the Nillumbik Trails Strategy 2011.8. Regional Trail UpdateDiamond Creek TrailA detailed design is currently being completed for a section of the Diamond CreekTrail in Hurstbridge, Graysharps Rd to Fergusons Paddock. While this design hasconsidered the new Hurstbridge Community Centre the trail alignment may changeslightly when this centre is constructed in 2014.Green Wedge TrailThe Green Wedge Trail is well underway with construction the section between LongGully Rd and Clintons Rd with Acacia the selected contractor. The works areexpected to be complete in May 2013.Watery Gully Trail is currently under construction and expected to be complete byApril 2013.The Couties Rd section is scheduled to be complete during April 2013, verbalapproval has been provided by the adjacent landholder.15