The Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA) has begun to upgrade the 87-kilometre track from Daylesford, through Blackwood and to Bacchus Marsh in collaboration with land managers.

The upgrades, funded through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, will see upgrades to about two thirds of the track.

The works will see the installation of new posts to be painted with a distinct sky blue stripe to distinguish the track as the Lerderderg. The department will also build new bridges across two challenging wet areas along the track.

The track, which is managed by the GDTA, DELWP, Parks Victoria, Hepburn Shire and Moorabool Shire Councils, follows the heritage-listed Lerderderg River which steeply falls into a gorge. A rich repository of geological features, which are of international significance, can be viewed at the gorge.

Signage upgrades have already begun at the Daylesford end of the track which overlooks Lake Daylesford at Bridport St.

Funding has allowed the GDTA to re-route the track to allow for the provision of mountain bikers so that they can share the track with walkers. 

Further to the track upgrades, a new map, by Wheatsheaf's Ken Dowling, has also been drawn up on waterproof paper.

The map features alternative bike routes and a revised means to travel through the suburbs of Bacchus Marsh to reach the train station.

It is expected the trail upgrades will be completed by spring of this year.

The Lerderderg Track is one of three which make up the Great Dividing Trail Network.

The network, which connects users with nature while leading through a number of different cultural heritage sites, is made up of more than 300-kilometres of interlinked shared trails for walkers and bike riders. The original section of track, known as the Goldfields Track, is the longest shared use track in Victoria.

The new maps are available on the Great Dividing Trail Association website, at Daylesford Information Centre and at Blackwood store.