Rokeby to Noojee Trail

  • Project typeUpgrade and new construction
  • Project schedulePlanning and design
Rokeby Noojee Trail.jpg

Council is seeking to improve and extend the existing Rokeby to Neerim trail to create a link to some of Baw Baw’s key historic tourism destinations including the historically significant Noojee Trestle Bridge, the tallest remaining wooden railway bridge in Victoria as well as the historic township of Noojee.

The trail aims to create a high-quality shared user trail that provides:

  • Excellent user experience
  • Safety and accessibility
  • Improved health and wellbeing opportunities
  • Connection between communities
  • Engagement with natural vistas and historic sites
  • Tourism and economic development opportunities
  • Educational opportunities

The project aligns with various Council, State and Federal Government Strategies that promote active recreation Cycling, Tourism and Health and Wellbeing. This sets the context for further funding and investment opportunities.

The route proposed by the Baw Baw Cycling Feasibility Study is approximately 28 kilometres and is a mix of existing trail and off-road path (which will be upgraded), newly built off road paths, newly built on road bike lanes, crossings, boardwalks, signage, safety elements and a range of associated infrastructure.

The final route will be influenced by several considerations including the available road reserve widths and conditions, suitability of alignments in achieving the project aims, vegetation removal permit requirements, cultural heritage requirements and access to land. 

Use the interactive map below to explore the existing trails and the historical rail route

Advocacy and funding

This project is one of four of Council’s Tier One advocacy priorities. These are large-scale, long-term projects with significant inter-generational impact on the region.

See more at Advocacy Priorities.

The project cost is contingent on final designs and future external funding applications from State and Federal Governments, philanthropic contributions as well as supplementary Council contributions.

Funding opportunities will be identified and pursued as planning and design progresses, and as funding streams from State and Federal Governments become available.

Challenges

The extension of the trail poses several challenges that require planning and design solutions to be investigated, including:

  • Engineering challenges such as areas of dense native vegetation, steep road embankments and narrow existing road reserves.
  • Connections between trail sections that are outside of public land.
  • Conflict points such as high-speed traffic proximity, private driveways and road crossings.

Next steps

Surveying and preliminary design works are currently underway to better understand the project requirements and accurate costings. This planning work is due for completion in mid-2022.

 

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