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Councils - Regional Victoria

Alpine Shire Council

The Alpine Shire is approximately 300 km north east of Melbourne with a population of over 13,000. About 92% of the shire is public land including parts of the Alpine National Park and all of the Mount Buffalo National Park.

Alpine riders - drafting of council Budget 2013/14 underway

05 March 2013. As you read this Council is preparing its draft 2013/14 Budget. The time to act is now for more bike infrastructure funding!

As a ratepayer and rider now is the time for Council to hear from you if you want more funding to improve the local riding environment.

Click here to tell your Council to invest in bike infrastructure (E-mail contact for Council provided) in the 2013/14 Budget.

Help guide the future of Victoria's Alpine National Park

21 August 2009. The Alpine National Park contains some of Australia's finest scenery, most fragile ecosystems, and rewarding riding environments. Parks Victoria is seeking input from bike riders in the management of these precious resources. The wePlan website will be hosting discussions. A range of community open houses will also be starting at the beginning of October, from 4-7pm.

People with a contribution to make are invited to comment at the links included below. The following text is courtesy of Parks Victoria:

wePlan Alpine: help guide the future of Victoria's parks

Parks Victoria is reviewing park management plans for the National Heritage Listed Alpine Country and eastern highlands. With many of the existing management plans in the area due for review, the Alpine Parks Management Plan will include the Alpine, Baw Baw, Mount Buffalo, Errinundra and Snowy River national parks as well as the Avon Wilderness Park, Walhalla and adjacent historic parks - an area totalling over 860,000 hectares.

A project specific website called www.weplan.parks.vic.gov.au has been running since December 2008. The website has a blog, social networking, user contributed galleries and wiki functionality. The blog will enable anyone who is interested in the parks to contribute their thoughts, ideas and opinions. A wiki, a document which allows many people to collaborate on editing it, will be used to create the draft plan. Parks Victoria has completed a table of contents and some base information and the community can edit most of the plan. A series of open houses will be held in mid 2009 at key locations in the planning area. The open house will provide people with an opportunity to ask planners and rangers questions about the planning process and to provide feedback on what they would like to see.

By having your say, you are adding to the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of Victorians. It is time to take a fresh approach to park planning. Join us at www.weplan.parks.vic.gov.au.

Pedals push alps tourism

01 July 2008. Research has again indicated that attracting bike riders is a great tonic for the economy of regional towns.

According to a study of the annual Audax Alpine Classic event, competitors spend more than $814,000 while in Bright in north-eastern Victoria. Family, friends and general spectators spend even more, bringing total benefit to the region of some $1.5M.

The Audax Alpine Classic has been running for 24 years and involves 2000 cyclists; it is a day of long-distance cycling over the January long weekend.

More than 75 per cent of respondents said they were `likely' or extremely likely' to return to Bright for a holiday and nearly 40 per cent stay for three nights.

The research was undertaken at this year's Audax Alpine Classic by Southern Cross University, the University of Canberra and the University of Queensland.

For further information on the study contact public affairs at Bicycle Network Victoria.

See also

 

Alpine Shire Update

Dec 07 The Alpine Shire Council remains committed to maintaining and improving the extensive network of road, mountain bike and family friendly trails throughout the Shire.

Recently the Alpine Shire extended the Rail Trail along Railway Ave, Bright and on to Burke Street to connect the trail to the Bright business area. Proposed future works relating to the Rail Trail in this area include improved end of trip facilities, locality and directional signage, seating and a trip preparation area.

The Alpine Shire also recently completed a comprehensive scoping study into implementing additional trails between:

These future trails are extensive and implementation will be dependant on obtaining support from the State and Federal governments and the private sector where possible however the Alpine Shire now has a strategy for improving the cycling trail network.

The Alpine Shire continues to improve bike infrastructure across all townships. Some 28 bike racks were installed through out Myrtleford early in 2007 to coincide with the Great Victorian Bike Ride and these racks remain an integral part of the townships streetscape infrastructure. Bike racks have also been installed through out Bright and Mount Beauty at various locations and the Shire will continue to implement this infrastructure at identified locations.

Efforts are currently focused on improving the end of trip facilities in Alpine Park, Wandiligong.  This is the starting point of the Wandi - Bright trail along Morse's Creek, a beginner to medium level mountain bike trail. Funding is currently being pursued for this project which is recognised as the first stage in improving activity opportunities in the Wandiligong area and improving connectivity to Bright.

Going back slightly to 2005 -06, the Alpine Shire constructed an elevated shared pathway along the Kiewa Valley Highway connecting the Mount Beauty Mountain Bike Park to the township. This required extensive engineering and was quite an accomplishment given the location and limited available space.

Alpine Shire council is guided by the Alpine Shire Bike Strategy and township Frameworks that provided a clear vision for implementing infrastructure and supporting sustainable communities. The Bike Strategy identifies a range of improvements for on and off road cycling and these remain a priority for the Shire.

Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail

Jun 05 Alpine Shire Council has allocated $20,000 in the 2005/06 budget for a 400m extension on the rail trail. The trail will be linked to the Bourke St car park to give riders access to town.

Alpine Shire bicycle strategy

2003 The Alpine Shire Bicycle Strategy is a 5 to 10 year plan aiming to develop town centre cycle routes, inter-town connections and other cycling facilities. It takes advantage of the existing Murray to the Mountains rail trail and details support infrastructure, implementation and management.

The strategy is in its early stages of implementation and many areas of Council have been involved, with expertise called on from Engineering, Environment, Planning, Tourism, Economic Development and Community Services.

Key points: