Construction of the Campaspe Shire section of the Waranga Rail Trail is now complete. The new trail will open to the public on 1 April, with an official opening ceremony to follow on 17 May.
The newly completed section offers 11 kilometres of trail between the town of Rushworth and the Campaspe Shire boundary at Channel Inlet Road. It features two surface types: a 2.5m-wide 1km-long asphalt path which begins at the High Street footpath in Rushworth and concludes at Bendigo-Murchison Road; and a 10km gravel section that continues east to the shire boundary.
Funded by the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant Program, the newly completed trail now connects with the eastern section developed by Greater Shepparton City Council in 2015, completing a 19km trail which follows the alignment of the decommissioned railway line from Rushworth to Murchison.
The Waranga Rail Trail passes through culturally and historically important areas and takes in many unique features and sites of interest, including: the heritage-listed Rushworth railway goods shed, siding and turntable; Waranga Basin; the Cattanach and Sturt Murray canals; and Doctors Swamp Wildlife Reserve.
An official opening ceremony for the Waranga Rail Trail will be held at the start of the trail in High Street, Rushworth, on 17 May at 10am to coincide with the monthly Rushworth market.
