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Olinda Creek trail campaign ride

All riders are welcome to a relaxed ride next week to help campaign for a beautiful new trail proposed in the Yarra Ranges.

Proponents of the extension and upgrading of the Olinda Creek Trail have organised a ride along parts of the proposed route,which will connect Olinda to Lilydale.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges is expected to move forward with funding for a feasibility study for the trail this year, which will establish its viability and form a platform for attracting funds from governments sources.

Now, to keep the issue front and centre, local advocates have organised a ride to take supporters along to meet up with the mayor and councillors and show them what the community is missing out on.

Riders will meet on Thursday 22 February at Tramway Road carpark off York Road, Mt Evelyn. (not Woori Yallock) at 9:15am for a 9:30 start.

Riders will start from the ‘Amazing Coffee Van’ at Tramway Road for a 19km ride to Olinda along the well-formed bush trails through Silvan and Olinda forest, then via the Rupert Hamer arboretum and past the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens to the Ranges Café at Olinda at around 11.30-11.45am.

The ride initially follows Warrawee Road, Murrumbung Road, and Wombalano Road – quiet suburban streets – before joining Pipeline Track. Ride organiser Ron Thomas will lead, some riders will use GPS mapping and there are markers along the way.

"The first 10km to the Valley Picnic Ground has a very gentle gradient, the next 9kms includes some significant gradients we can comfortably ride on our E-bikes and have been found to be OK for strong riders on hybrid bikes,” Thomas says.

"The return ride will retrace the route and will coast downhill and is suitable for all riders."

There will be an alternative ride for those who choose the Warburton Trail over the forest trail and this will include a short 15-minute ride up to the Cog Café at Mt Evelyn. This route includes the ‘Warby' Trail and part of the Mt Evelyn Aqueduct Trail.

The opportunity is to upgrade, formalise and signpost a continuous trail from Lilydale to Olinda, taking in the magnificent forests along the way.

This ride will be a great way to spend the morning, and it is hoped it will help move the project towards realisation.