Colac-Otway Shire Council - Forrest Tiger Rail Trail
Tourists and the Colac local community now have improved access
between Forrest township and recreation reserve via a safe off-road
trail, thanks to Australian Government funding under the Regional
and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) $250 million.
As well as improved links between the Forrest township and the Yaugher
Mountain Bike Trails, the $40,000 RLCIP funding has also delivered and improved
recreational opportunities for all ability levels and provides with the
opportunity to hold mountain bike events using the trail.
Councillor Brian Crook said the Forrest Tiger Rail Trail project was a
community driven initiative linking the Forrest township to the Forrest
Recreation Reserve. Steeped in local history, the trail’s “Tiger” moniker comes
from bygone days when a black and yellow Dodge sedan ferried passengers between
local towns, after the local train ceased operating.
Situated two hours southwest of Melbourne and renowned for the Great Otway
National Park, the Colac Otway Shire includes the Great Ocean Road, which
receives over a million visitors per year. The Shire is one of the most
picturesque municipalities in Victoria, covering a diverse area from volcanic
lakes, craters and alluvial plains in the north, through the hinterland forests
of the Otway Ranges to the Great Ocean Road coastline, taking in Lorne and
Apollo Bay.
RLCIP funding enabled the building of a trail connecting the Forrest township
with the Forrest Recreation Reserve and linking the Mountain Bike Trails Network
at Yaugher via a 1.8 kilometre long, 2.5 metre wide multi-use pathway.
The project also included the reconstruction of an existing bridge,
installation of directional signage, and has assisted the community’s long-term
vision for the trail to eventually link Forrest with Barwon Downs to Birregurra.
Councillor Crook said the trail is a fantastic community asset.
Tourism is one of Colac Otway Shire’s key industries directly supporting over
350 jobs, with an estimated $120.5 million expended by tourists each year in the
Colac Otway region.