River walking trail ‘dumped’

Andrew Mathieson
State Government has dumped plans for a continuous walking trail linking Geelong to Barwon Heads.
Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield announced the Barwon River Parklands project would instead have “loop trails” and “key access points”.
Mr Crutchfield said concerns about protecting the environment led to the state axing the trail plan.
“The highest priority of the Barwon River Parklands from the community’s perspective is to protect the natural environment and Ramsar wetlands,” he said.
“Loop trails and key access points were identified as a higher priority than a continuous trail linking Geelong to Barwon Heads.”
Mr Crutchfield said the community wanted a focus instead on developing other recreation opportunities, such as Belmont Common.
But the Liberal party candidate for Mr Crutchfield’s marginal state seat accused Mr Crutchfield of breaking an election promise.
Andrew Katos, also a Geelong councillor, said he doubted whether the Government had carried out adequate community consultation on the trail plan.
“It’s appropriate he’s talking about loops because he’s talking in circles,” Cr Katos said.
“They (the Labor Government) promised a continuos track and parkland from Buckley Falls to Barwon Heads. That was the commitment at the 2006 election and that’s something they’ve certainly gone back on.”
Cr Katos said a council report in May confirmed the Government had committed to the “continuous parkland link” along the river.
More than 150 residents attended a Barwon River Parklands’ forum. The project also collected 117 surveys and five written submissions.
Geelong Environmental Council president Joan Lindros backed the Government changes to the proposal.
“The concept of the trails was excellent but for it to be continuous was never going to work,” she said.
“A lot of the properties are up on the edge of the water. There are areas of very valuable saltmarsh and Ramsar-protected areas that are important to birdlife.”
Ms Lindros said having “destination points” with “loops” around private land and wetlands was “more practical”.