Working hard to maintain city’s trails and tracks

With spring weather in sight, it’s a great time to get outside and onto one of Ballarat’s many trails and tracks, which are developing into one of the city’s great free recreational assets.  

The City of Ballarat’s Trails and Waterways team look after about 80 kilometres of tracks, trails and paths, with a further 25 kilometres under their maintenance on the Ballarat - Skipton Rail Trail and Buninyong to the Mount Summit Loops.

The tracks cater for all levels of adventure, whether hiking, mountain biking or those out for a Sunday stroll.  

Aside from a section of track south of the Western Freeway closed due to flood damage, the Yarrowee River Corridor trail between Docwra Street and Gong Gong Reservoir provides about 19 kilometres of continuous track. It features a terrific trail experience through several different landscapes.  

The closed section of the track is expected to open by the end of September.  

Works to the Yarrowee River Corridor Trail are informed by the Yarrowee River and Tributaries: River Corridor Masterplan Plan 2020, which reflects a 25-year investment in taking care of the corridor and the trails along it.  

The comprehensive plan looks at access and trails, rehabilitation, regeneration and vegetation management as well as water quality and wetlands. The plan is underwritten by a focus on the ongoing sustainable management of the corridor.

City of Ballarat Councillor, Belinda Coates encouraged the community to make the most of Ballarat’s tracks and trails.  

“Spending time in nature has many health and mental health benefits — utilising our city’s fantastic array of tracks and trails is a great way to get outside and make the most of the local natural environment,” Cr Coates said.  

12 of Ballarat’s best trails to try:

• Yarrowee River Trail
• Specimen Vale Creek Trail  
• Warrenheip Creek Trail
• Pennyweight Creek Trail  
• Grass Tree Creek Trail
• Canadian Creek Trail  
• Woowookarung Regional Park Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail
• Buninyong to the Mount Summit Loops  
• Lake Wendouree
• Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail
• Union Jack Track
• Goldfields Track

The development and maintenance of Ballarat’s trails and tracks is line with Goal 4 of the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025: a city that conserves and enhances our natural and built assets. 

For more information about Ballarat’s trails and tracks, see the Visit Ballarat website. To read more about the City of Ballarat’s Trails and Waterways team, see the article in the spring edition of ourballarat.