Plans to upgrade facilities at the Cement Creek Redwood Forest in Warburton are progressing, with Parks Victoria currently seeking tenders to construct new visitor facilities at the site.
Visitors can look forward to a number of upgrades set to be delivered by Parks Victoria, including additional carparking, an accessible public toilet, a safety gate and a visitor shelter, as well as formalising sections of the existing trail network.
The upgrades aim to improve the site's accessibility and provide a better visitor experience, while also managing visitor impacts to help protect the park's unique environment.
Draft designs were shared with the community in May last year and have since been going through cultural heritage and town planning approvals.
We expect to be able to share final designs with the community in the coming months, once we have received the relevant permits, awarded the construction tender and scoped final costs with the selected contractor.
The upgrades being delivered by Parks Victoria are funded by $2.6 million from the Victorian Government. This includes $2.3 million from the Regional Tourism Investment Fund, which supports new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects that increase visitation, drive private investment and deliver more jobs.
Pictured above: The Cement Creek Redwood Forest is well-loved for its enchanting and photogenic Californian Redwood trees. It's popular for walking, picnics and nature appreciation.
An additional $400,000 of works funded and delivered by Melbourne Water will support visitor accessibility and additional open space opportunities. These works will include constructing boardwalks, viewing platforms and fencing along the Cement Creek. Revegetation along the Cement Creek and the Yarra River will also be undertaken to improve river health and provide habitat.
The Cement Creek Redwood Forest in the Yarra Ranges National Park has become an increasingly popular site over recent years due to the enchanting and photogenic Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees.
In April 2023 the Cement Creek Plantation (which includes the Redwood Forest) was added to the Victorian Heritage Register due to its aesthetic, historic and scientific significance.
Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water are working with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Yarra Ranges Shire Council and Heritage Victoria to ensure the site's natural and cultural values are protected during works and into the future.
Subject to on-ground and construction industry conditions, and environmental, cultural heritage and town planning assessments and approvals, Parks Victoria's portion of works is expected to start in mid-2024.
