Early in 2011 DSE closed the Lerderderg Track between Jubilee Lake and St Leonards Hill following storm damage. The track is still closed. GDTA has repeatedly requested that the track be reopened. At a meeting with DSE Midlands District in November 2011 the GDTA asked DSE to take urgent action to reopen the track.

DSE have advised that only DSE posts are allowed on their land. This means that on the Lerderderg Track between Jubilee Lake and Blackwood, DSE will replace all green GDT posts with grey DSE posts.

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity
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Lerderderg Track

Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford
71km following the Lerderderg River Valley

Byers Walk

Blackwood - O'Briens Rd 8.8km

This walk takes you from the small township of Blackwood along some reasonably accessible and very interesting parts of the Lerderderg River valley as the river gorge tightens up. It includes the Blackwood (Mineral) Springs Reserve (on the outskirts of town, with a range of services and caravan park) as well as grand water races from the mining days. It comes very close to 'The Tunnel' - cutting off a meander of the Lerderderg River for mining purposes and has great views down some very steep slopes into the river itself.

Blackwood itself is accessible by all weather bitumen road from Melbourne (take the Greendale turn off the Western Freeway) or south from Trentham. You should buy the Lerderderg Map - available via GDTA (for $5.50) or from a local Visitor Information Centre - which includes an access map.

The latter part of the walk meets and is along part of O'Briens Road - a steep (but all wether) gravel that leads down to O'Briens Crossing. O'Brien's Crossing is off the track, but has toilets and bush camping facilities. Take particular care with vehicles if you walk along or down O'Brien's Road.

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