General News
19 June, 2026
Rail trail supporters await council decision
SUPPORTERS of the Grampians Rail Trail say they left a recent meeting with Northern Grampians Shire Council disappointed after failing to secure a commitment towards future maintenance of the trail, but council says a decision on the extent of its support is yet to be made.
Friends of Grampians Rail Trail founder John Pye and newly elected president Lindsay Knight recently presented councillors and council representatives with a proposal seeking a commitment towards ongoing maintenance, which they say is needed to strengthen future grant applications for an extension towards Halls Gap.
The group estimates the commitment would equate to about $20,000 a year, with any funding not expected to be required for several years.
Mr Pye said supporters left the meeting disappointed after council indicated it was prepared to provide a letter of support rather than the maintenance commitment they had hoped for.
He said the request was linked to a grant opportunity that could help fund the long-awaited extension, with supporters believing long-term maintenance arrangements would strengthen any future application for external funding.
Mr Knight said demonstrating the trail would be maintained into the future was an important part of any funding application.
“If we don’t put that in, who’s going to give you a grant for something that in two years will start falling into disrepair?” he said.
However, a Northern Grampians Shire Council spokesperson said councillors were yet to determine the extent of council’s commitment to the project, with the matter due to be considered at a meeting next week.
“The group presented to council a few weeks ago, so the item is going to a council meeting scheduled for next week,” the spokesperson said.
“Council has not yet decided the extent of our commitment to the project at this stage. This will be determined at the meeting on Tuesday.”
Mr Knight, who recently became president of Friends of Grampians Rail Trail, said he joined the committee after years of using the trail and discussing its potential.
“It was time to put my money where my mouth was,” he said.
“I’ve ridden along it 100 times or more and you’ve got to get involved if you want to see it done.”
The Grampians Rail Trail follows the former Heatherlie railway corridor between Stawell and Lake Lonsdale and began more than two decades ago as a Stawell Secondary College initiative led by Mr Pye.
Students helped construct significant sections of the trail, while volunteers have continued developing and maintaining it through grants, donations and community support.
Mr Knight said the trail offered something different from many rail trails around Victoria.
“It’s got its own unique wildlife, trees, the vegetation and the changing nature of it along the way,” he said.
“It’s not 30 kilometres of travelling along the edge of farmland.
“It passes through a whole range of different environments that are interesting.”
Supporters believe extending the trail to Halls Gap would create a unique visitor experience while better connecting Stawell with one of Victoria’s best-known tourism destinations.
Mr Knight said the group was not seeking an immediate cash contribution from council, but rather a commitment to support maintenance of the completed trail into the future.
“We’re saying to you, in two and a bit years’ time, we need you to build into your budgetary process some maintenance money for this asset,” he said.
“It’s not money we need tomorrow.
“We need a commitment that the asset will be maintained into the future.”
Mr Knight said volunteers were prepared to continue maintaining and improving the trail, but argued a long-term council commitment was needed to help secure external funding for the extension.
“There’s this group of people who want to continue to build something with money that you don’t have to provide and do it voluntarily,” he said.
Mr Pye said he hoped councillors would support the proposal.
“If we get it to Halls Gap, that creates an iconic rail trail which will attract international visitors as well as a lot of domestic visitors,” he said.
“Most rail trails just go through paddocks. This goes through wetlands, conservation areas and along sections where you’ll be able to see the escarpment of the Grampians.”
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