Improving central connections of the Yarrowee River trails

Users of Ballarat’s Yarrowee River trails are being asked for feedback on how to best provide safe and engaging off-road walkable and rideable connections at four key locations surrounding the CBD.  

Specifically, the Yarrowee River Trails and Connections Project aims to address the following;

• Accessibility and safety  
• Rest and contemplation areas  
• Trees and other planting  
• Information and directional signage
• Connections to other walking and cycling paths

The first connection identified is between Nicholson Street and Scott Parade, linking Black Hill to the Eastern Oval and onto Mair Street.  

The second location looks at providing new shared paths along Anderson Street East and West, connecting into the CBD and recently constructed tracks along Steinfeld Street. This will allow for a seamless active transport route to and from the city.  

The third connection would link the trail from Grant Street along the Yarrowee River past White Flat Oval and the river reserve through to Sunnyside Mill at Hill Street.  

The final location will see improvements to the Prest Street Reserve including providing a lookout platform and site interpretation.  

These four connections have been identified from the Yarrowee River and Tributaries: River Corridor Masterplan, which includes 34 plans spanning the whole length of the river.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said design work to connect the Yarrowee River trails to the CBD is an important step in improving active transport links.  

“We are asking the community for their thoughts on these connections, and what we would do along these paths to improve the experience of using them,” he said.  

Community feedback will help shape these connections and the facilities along them, before further advocacy work is undertaken to fund the construction of the upgrades.  

To provide feedback, pin locations on a map or answer a quick survey, visit mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au. Consultation closes at 5pm Monday, 15 April 2024.