The Daylesford to Hanging Rock Rail Trail is a prospective project between Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shire councils.
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The project builds on the region’s wellness brand and encourages visitors to travel to the shire’s smaller towns, like Bullarto, Musk and Lyonville and other points of interest.
The rail trail involves converting the railway lines of the former Carlsruhe – Daylesford railway, which opened in 1880 and closed in 1978, with a 44km bike track.
Apart from the main trail, there are also connection spurs to other attractions.
These spurs include the Woodend to Hanging Rock spur, Carlsruhe to Kyneton spur and Trentham to Falls Trail spur.
The project is similar to the successful Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in North East Victoria.
The trail ride is planned to be more leisurely than the Creswick Mountain Bike Mecca trail and will attract a different kind of rider.
Last week, Hepburn Shire mayor Cr John Cottrell and chief executive officer Aaron van Egmond met with Macedon Ranges Shire mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson and CEO Margot Stork, in a delegation to state parliament.
The delegation, which included MP Mary-Anne Thomas, discussed the project and lobbied for funding from Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford.
Mr van Egmond said Ms Pulford was positive about the project.
He said the project would bring significant economic development and further business opportunities for agricultural sales and tours.
The rail trail will offer a wide variety of tourism experiences along the route, including the experience of the region’s cafes, wineries, heritage, natural attractions like the mineral springs and Wombat State Forest and its flora and fauna.
The prospectus says the trail will enhance existing businesses along the route, including Holgate Brewery in Woodend, Du Fermier in Trentham, Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville and Passing Clouds Winery in Musk.
The trail will support a number of projects identified in the Daylesford Macedon Region Tourism’s Product Development Plan.
These include the Bullarto Station Tourist Precinct, a Regional Wine Centre, Brewing Discovery Centre and Brewhouse Showroom at Holgate Brewhouse in Woodend and a Wellness Festival.
It is estimated the project could bring an extra 62,500 visitors to the region each year, could create 51 new jobs and have an annual economic benefit of $4.1 million.
The project needs an estimated $11.27 million of funding for the trail itself, the spurs and the Bullarto Station Tourist Precinct project.
