Cyclists are counting their blessings following the completion of a key stretch of the long-promised Temple to Temple trail.
A 1.2-kilometre section of cycle trail from Cranwell Reserve in Braybrook to the border with Brimbank is now open, bringing the trail along the Maribyrnong River a step closer to completion.
Maribyrnong council has been working to build a continuous riverside trail linking the Heavenly Queen Temple in Footscray to the Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook.
The new extension joins up with 800 metres of trail running east from Cranwell Reserve to the pipe bridge near Medway Golf Club, finished in 2015.
A further stretch between the pipe bridge and the Waterford Green estate will eventually provide the final link in the Maribyrnong to Braybrook section.
Completion of the final length of the trail, along the riverside stretch of the Maribyrnong Defence Site, remains out of the council’s hands until a decision is made on the land’s future.
The council has been pushing to fast-track the opening up of the riverfront stretch of the site to finish the trail.
Mayor Cuc Lam said the trail has been a major project staged over the past three years.
“It represents a milestone in the provision of green infrastructure which encourages people to walk and ride for commuting or recreational purposes, and better connects our community to the Maribyrnong River corridor,” she said.
“We encourage our community to use the trail to experience and enjoy the variety of open spaces along the river, and we thank the Quang Minh Temple for generously permitting the construction of part of the trail on their land.”
