The fourth section of a proposed 5.4 kilometre walking and cycling path in Moorabool was opened last month.
The path now spans from Darley to the Bacchus Marsh Train station in Maddingley.
Officially opened on Saturday, June 29, the fourth stage of the Aqualink Cycling and Walking Corridor – titled Aqualink East – means that residents and visitors can now travel from Darley to Maddingley using a non-car transport route.
Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said that the event was a “fantastic opening of this great asset.”
“We received very positive comments at the finish line from walkers, runners, cyclists and scooters who walked the length of Aqualink and enjoyed a sausage and a hot drink at the end,” Cr Tatchell said.
“If you didn’t have a chance to attend the opening but you’re keen for a great walk/ride from Darley to Maddingley, hit the track and schedule some stops at our exercise nodes along the way,” he said.
According to Moorabool, the Aqualink will provide better access to Bacchus Marsh’s main attractions and services and was enabled by Southern Rural Water’s recent upgrade and modernisation project, where new underground piping and the removal of the channel provided an opportunity to build a proposed off-road walking and cycling access and linkages through Darley and Bacchus Marsh.
It will also link to an upgraded shared path from Bacchus Marsh Train Station to Main Street.
The fifth stage of the project – Aqualink West from Masons Lane, Bacchus Marsh to Werribee River, Maddingley – is currently unfunded.
According to the council, this final stage is a high priority in its advocacy prospectus.
The finished Aqualink will connect the Lerderderg River and Werribee River corridors.
The Aqualink project has involved collaboration between the Department of Transport, Southern Rural Water and Moorabool, and a further $4.1 million grant was received from a federal road safety program.
