General News
11 April, 2023
Trail work progresses
DELIVERY costs for the Twelve Apostles Trail project soared by more than $5 million from the initial costings.
DELIVERY costs for the Twelve Apostles Trail project soared by more than $5 million from the initial costings.
Corangamite Shire director works and services Brooke Love provided council with an update on the project last week.
“The total cost of the trail project from planning, approvals to delivery has increased from an estimated $6.9 million in 2021 to $12.2 million,” she said.
“The past 12 months have seen unprecedented activity and impacts within the construction sector with no shortage of available work for both civil and landscape contractors given high levels of residential construction activity and government stimulus projects.
“Similarly, there have been unprecedented increases on costs of materials, associated with supply chain constraints, and sharp increase in fuel and subsequent machinery operational costs.”
The state government has contributed $8.6 million with an initial contribution of $4.5 million from the Crisis Committee of Cabinet – Infrastructure Stimulus Fund in 2020 and an additional allocation of $4.1 million in 2022.
The federal government endorsed a contribution of $800,000 through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and Corangamite Shire allocated $2.8 million to the project.
Mrs Love said the project was currently on target in relation to the updated budget and was expected to be delivered by July this year.
“The Twelve Apostles Trail has significant strategic alignment and has been identified as a key output to assist with nature-based tourism experiences,” she said.
“Corangamite has the exceptional advantage through its natural landscape of lakes and craters and iconic coastal alignment and attractions of establishing itself as pivotal to delivering cycling opportunities for the south west of Victoria.
“Our tourism growth has long been inhibited by a pattern of visitation that is vehicle dependent, short stay and concentrated on the coast.
“The Twelve Apostles Trail is specifically designed to alter this pattern by encouraging visitors to walk or cycle and immerse themselves in the landscape.”
Mrs Love said the project was “well under way”.
“Seventeen kilometres of the trail is open for public use from Timboon to Port Campbell via the suspension bridge,” she said.
Mrs Love said council had focused specifically on stage one of the trail – Timboon to Port Campbell – which would provide community recreation and leisure opportunities as well as assist with nature-based tourism experiences.
“Council will continue to advocate for funding for the alignment from Port Campbell to Princetown (stage two) through its involvement in the Shipwreck Coast Masterplan Implementation, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority Regional Trail Strategy development and as a part of its state and federal priorities.”