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
Click here for more information.

Outline GDTA Walks Program for 2012 (Jan-June only) is now posted elsewhere on this site ...

 

Our thoughts are with Ron James (early 2012 News)

Ron James a long time and passionate GDTA supporter, Committee member  and walk leader, and in recent times our GDTA Newsletter Editor took ill in late 2011 and in early 2012 was undergoing tests and treatment in St John of God Hospital in Ballarat. It is likely Ron will be sidelined from leading walks and other GDTA activity for some time during 2012. Meantime we wish him all the best and acknowledge his invaluable contribution to GDTA. Any member who is interested in helping edit the GDTA Newsletter in 2012 should contact President, Alison Lanigan

The Goldfields Track was officially Launched for walkers and riders, on Tues 17 May 2011 at Fryerstown School: details below

Macedon-Blackwood Extension

The final route for the extension to Mount Macedon was approved by DSE and Heritage Victoria in late 2010. Sincere thanks to GDTA members who’ve diligently and doggedly spent nearly five years working on this project, particularly BILL CASEY and RICHARD PIESSE, with support from NEIL McCRACKEN, PATRICK HOPE and SUE BAXTER. If you want to help us with this extension in 2012 (and we need help, let us know)!

 

 

Geocaching along the Goldfields

Track

Add further interest to your walk or ride by geocaching along the Goldfields Track where a geocaching route has been established. Don’t know what geocaching is? It’s like a treasure hunt, but with its own protocols.

The route with cache locations can be downloaded in formats (eg GPX) suitable for your GPSr or for mapping software, eg OziExplorer or Memory Map. Each route contains caches from Geocaching Australia and Geocaching.com. These are often based on historic, natural or other interesting features that lie within 500m of the track. Walkers can choose to narrow the coverage.

You have to be a paid premium member of Geochacing.com to download their route cache data, whereas Geocaching Australia requires only that you register (free).

 

 

For Goldfields Track geocaches, try: (Wallaby Track 46 caches) - http://geocaching.com.au/my/route/view/235/ (Dry Diggings Track 12 caches) - http://geocaching.com.au/my/route/view/236/ (Leanganook Track 24 caches) - http://geocaching.com.au/my/route/view/83/ Leanganook Track, (Castlemaine - Bendigo) is suited to train travel one way.

 

Goldfields Track Update,

early 2012

 

Upgrading of the Goldfields Track (Mt Buninyong- Bendigo) is complete, with the installation of new direction posts and framed and entry signage in time for official Goldfields Track Launch, which took place on Tues 17 May 2011 at Fryerstown School.

Several mountain bike diversions are in place or are planned for Mount Alexander, Chewton, Vaughan Springs, Hepburn, Creswick, Brown Hill and Buninyong. These diversions will help to provide a safe track for walkers and give protection to the sensitive sections of the Track.

Extreme weather in Sept & Nov 2010 and again in January 2011 caused significant damage and/or erosion to parts of the Track, with some temporary diversions and signage in place around Slaty Creek, Creswick, Hepburn and Daylesford. If you require updated information about the Vaughan Springs reserve area, please contact Maurice Hawkins, Parks Victoria. Maurice’s mobile number is 0407 875 883 or email him on maurice.hawkins@parks.vic.gov.au

 Background to the upgrade

The Goldfield Track Project Committee (GTP) was established in 2008 in line with a business development plan commissioned by the GDTA in 2006 (Going for Gold).  The plan recommended rebranding and promoting the Ballarat to Bendigo section of the Trail as the Goldfields Track.  The GTP Committee comprises representatives from Goldfields Tourism (the peak marketing body for the Goldfields region), the GDTA, Parks Victoria (PV), People & Parks Foundation (PPF), Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and GDTA Mountain Bikers. 

In 2009 a funding application was made on behalf of the GTP by Goldfields Tourism and on 15 December 2009 the Federal Government’s Department of Resources Energy and Tourism announced $550,000 for the Goldfields Track Project to deliver a shared bushwalking and mountain bike experience for central Victoria.  Funds will be used for track upgrades, mountain bike diversions, new bridges and signage, mapping, marketing activities and project management of the entire project.  Other cash funds have been provided by Goldfields Tourism and local government Shires (City of Greater Bendigo, City of Ballarat and Mount Alexander Shire).  Committee members are contributing significant in-kind assistance to the project.  The total cash and in-kind support makes this project worth over $1,000,000.

The project will be completed by March 2011 and the first stage of works is already complete including 42.5 kms of Track upgraded, installation of 157 new marker posts and other signage, the installation of two new bridges providing safe passage for mountainbikers and bushwalkers and one mountainbike diversion.  On-ground works are being carried out by work teams from Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) who are working closely with land managers to ensure all works meet the required standards.  All other existing GDTA track infrastructure (e.g., totems and entry stations) are being retained.  Removed marker posts are being stored for future GDTA use.  This first phase of works has taken place around the Castlemaine area, the work crews will now move to the Creswick area.

Conservation Volunteers Australia is helping deliver the project through:

  • Funds from tourism grant ¾ involving the installation of new trail infrastructure such as the replacement of existing directional posts.  The new posts are cypress pine with yellow/gold tops, new logo, directional arrows and any other relevant safety signage.
  • In-kind assistance ¾ project management assistance for the project and support for Track maintenance tasks such as erosion controls.  These works are being delivered via the National Green Jobs program.  Maintenance areas have been identified through an audit carried out in 2009 and through direct liaison with land managers.  The maintenance work will continue for at least 2 years.

Significant planning has been undertaken for this project and has included working directly with land managers, local government authorities (Bendigo, Mount Alexander, Hepburn and Ballarat) and water authorities (e.g. Coliban).  Planning has been particularly important for :

  • Signage type and colour ¾ both Parks Victoria and DSE are adopting new signage policies to which the Goldfields Track new infrastructure must align.  Information signs will now be poles and aluminium finger boards with specific colours chosen by the land managers (PV – heritage green with white lettering, DSE ochre and white lettering. As the project also involves signage on Council and VicRoads roads there will be a third colour type, information signs blue and white reflective lettering).
  • Mountain bike diversions ¾ the intent is to leave the existing track as much as possible for its original purpose, walking.  Some minor adjustments have been suggested by local Councils to the original track to ensure safety for walkers or to create better entry points. For example, the track at Fryerstown will now go to Fryerstown School rather than bypassing the township.  New major diversions will take mountain bikes off unsuitable sections of the original track onto existing bush tracks and roads.  For example, mountain bike riders will be directed down the road from the top of Mt Buninyong and off Zig Zag Track.

The project was officially launched on Saturday 8 May 2010 at the Garfield Mine Site, Castlemaine, by the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, and Minister for Tourism. In his speech the Minister noted the Victorian gold rushes had a special place in Australia's history and walkers and Track users will be able to take in some of this history when they travel along the Goldfields Track.  He highlighted the importance of the Track and drew the attention of PV to a particular issue that needs to be addressed: despite Victoria’s national parks attracting the highest visitor numbers in Australia, this State is not perceived as a key destination for nature based tourism when compared with other areas of Australia. It is hoped projects such as the Goldfield Track will redress this situation.

NEWS from Dec 2009:  Goldfields Track secures $500,000 Federal Government TQUAL Grant, for Buninyong to Bendigo track upgrade for walkers and mtb riders.

Nature trail from Bendigo to Ballarat now on track

 

16 December, 2009

 

The Goldfields Track is set to become the next 'must-do' nature based tourism experience with the recent announcement of the highly competitive Federal Government TQUAL Grant program.

Goldfields Tourism Inc has received a grant of $500,000 to improve the infrastructure and facilities of the 190km section of the Great Dividing Trail that connects Ballarat to Bendigo, the Goldfields Track.  Once completed in early 2011 the Goldfields Track will be the only shared bushwalking and mountain biking, bush immersion nature based experience of its kind in Australia. 

Goldfields Track mtb

Nick Lewis advises that the Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club and Bendigo mtb have joined Rocky Riders, and  formally expressed an interest in involvement with the Goldfields Track. GDTA and the Goldfields Track Committee welcomes this news.

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