The world-class wineries of the Great Western region are now only a short bike ride away for locals and visitors alike after the Great Western Wine and Heritage Cycle Trail officially opened last week.

Federal Senator for Victoria Jana Stewart joined Northern Grampians Shire Council officials and Great Western Future Committee members to open the trail, which connects the Best’s and Seppelt wineries via the Great Western township, on Thursday.

The $425,000 project was funded by equal contributions from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and the council.

Mayor Karen Hyslop said the council was grateful for the government’s support of the project.

She said the trail would bring benefits from improved safety to economic opportunities.

“Previously, there was no connection for pedestrians or cyclists from town to the two major wineries,” she said.

“While people could cycle between the wineries, they were sharing the roads with cars, trucks and other agricultural vehicles.

“The need for a purpose-built trail was highlighted in the Great Western master plan, so funding was sought to complete a shared path.

“The two-metre-wide trail provides a safe route for cyclists and pedestrians, reducing traffic-related risks and improving accessibility for all users.”

Cr Hyslop said the trail also provided tourism and community recreation benefits.

“We anticipate there will be a mix of local use and tourism use, with people riding and walking to the wineries at either end of the path, as well as residents using the path for recreation purposes,” she said.

“The cycling trail will help to attract more visitors to the Grampians region and give a reason to stay longer in the village, helping to grow the economy.

“The trail enables people to leisurely, safely and easily make their way between two of the town’s three wineries via the village centre. 

“The route takes cyclists past the shops of the village to capitalise on spending opportunities for the pub, cafes and stores.”

The trail also includes interactive signs and an information board in Memorial Park with a map showcasing some of the region’s heritage sites.

“Great Western is a beautiful little village that is blessed with strong heritage values in its buildings, gardens, shop fronts and verandahs,” Cr Hyslop said.

“This town is full of passionate people who want to harness all it has to offer to help build a sustainable future.

“Attracting more visitors to Great Western means additional investment in the region, greater business opportunities, more local jobs and a greater sense of civic optimism.”

Ms Stewart congratulated everyone involved in the project.

“It takes a team to deliver a project such as this, from the planners to the people on the ground delivering the works, so well done to everyone involved,” she said.

“It’s great for us to be able to partner with local government to invest in projects the community are really passionate about. It’s also fantastic to have funds such as the Building Better Regions Fund to facilitate important projects like this in our regional centres. 

“I love seeing investment in our regions – I grew up in Swan Hill so I’m definitely a country kid at heart.”

Long-serving Great Western Future Committee member Bill Kilpatrick thanked the council and the government for their contributions to the wine and heritage cycle trail.

“This project was added to our 10-year Great Western Future Plan in 2014 as one of the priority projects for the community and we’re thrilled to see it officially opened,” he said.

“I’ve just bought an e-bike, and as two of the heritage plaques are located on our property boundary, I look forward to enjoying the new trail along with everybody else.”

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