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Plenty River Trail set to start

Work on the new $19.3m Plenty River Trail is due to begin in the Hawkstowe precinct in Spring.

Construction of the northern section is planned to start later this year, and the central and southern sections are expected to start in the first half of 2024. 

Riders in Melbourne’s north-east are waiting eagerly for Parks Victoria to start turning the sods of the 24km of spectacular parkland trail and loops through Plenty Gorge Park, but works have been delayed by procurement problems. 

Tenders are being sought for the Hawkstowe section of the trail, the Hawkstowe picnic area and the northern section of the trail.

Parks Victoria says that where possible it will open the trail for public use as sections are completed. 

The primary trail will run through the Plenty Gorge Park from Doreen in the north to University Hill (Bundoora) in the south. There will also be 5km of secondary trails, suitable for walkers, runners and bike riders.

Works will also include the construction of five new lookouts offering expansive views across the parkland, two new bridges providing additional river-crossing access, and the existing Maroondah Aqueduct Pipe Bridge will also be refurbished.

The trail will provide new opportunities for local communities to experience and explore Plenty Gorge Park and will also connect the communities located in the north and south of the park. 

It will also help connect communities located on the east and west sides of the park, with two additional bridge crossings providing connections across the river. 

The trail will also link to the Mernda and Hawkstowe railway stations, providing options for walkers and cyclists to journey through the park. 

The project includes plans to upgrade Hawkstowe Picnic Area with an accessible toilet, new play spaces, improved entrance and better connection between the Hawkstowe carpark and Le Page Homestead. 

The project will also include upgrades to uplift facilities at Nioka Bush Camp.

The map outlines the trail alignment for the future Plenty River Trail, as well as the lookouts, bridges and crossings that are planned as part of this project.

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