About the project
Bass Coast Shire Council, in partnership with South Gippsland Shire Council, has received funding through the State Government’s Investment Fast Track Fund to complete a feasibility study for the Woolamai- Nyora rail trail extension.
This 25 kilometre section of trail is a missing link in the 1,100 kilometre Gippsland Odyssey Trail. Gippsland Odyssey will be one of the longest trails in Australia, extending all the way through Gippsland providing new active recreation and commuter links for the community and transforming key tourism infrastructure.
The purpose of the feasibility study is to identify all requirements that would need to be met to enable this project to proceed to detailed design and construction. The development of the study will include extensive engagement with affected landowners, as well as identifying any permits, approvals and structural requirements that would be needed to construct this trail.
The project is funded through the State Government Investment Fast Track Fund, with a contribution from both Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shire Councils.
Significant consideration has been given in the planning for this project to community and stakeholder engagement with a key focus on engaging with adjacent landowners, to understand the leases and licenses over the proposed trail alignment and the impacts of trail development on landowners. This work will occur once the tender has been awarded for this project.
The completed feasibility study would allow the project to be considered to progress to detailed design and construction. This would be dependent on obtaining further funding and would likely be completed in stages over a number of years, given the size and complexity of this project.
Community benefits from growing Bass Coast’s Tracks and Trails network include:
- Connecting to townships and the wider region
- Providing infrastructure for health and wellbeing, and a connection to nature
- Creating tourism opportunities
This 25 kilometre section of trail is a missing link in the 1,100 kilometre Gippsland Odyssey Trail. Gippsland Odyssey will be one of the longest trails in Australia, extending all the way through Gippsland. providing new active recreation and commuter links for the community and transforming key tourism infrastructure.
Bass Coast Shire Council have completed an economic impact assessment for this project. The Woolamai to Nyora section of the Gippsland Odyssey Trail is expected to inject $875,000 in direct economic benefit to the region throughout the planning phase of the project and a further $36.12 million in direct economic benefit throughout the construction phase.
A tender process will commence in mid-2023 to engage a consultant to deliver the feasibility study.
Further updates and opportunities for community engagement will be advertised through this page and Council’s media channels. Affected landowners will receive targeted correspondence and engagement throughout the project.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed in late 2023, and will be shared with the community at that time.
