New walking track opened at Cathedral Range State Park

Sunday 3 June, 2012

A new walking track at Cathedral Range State Park has been officially opened by Cindy McLeish MP, Member for Seymour.

The 3 kilometre Messmate Track is an important addition to the Cathedral Range State Park trail network, providing a link that connects Sugarloaf Saddle visitor area with Cooks Mill Heritage Site and camping area.

The project, which received a Victorian Bushfire Appeals Fund grant, had been a great collaboration between government and non-government organisations, together with the community.

The completion of this track marks another significant step in the recovery of the park from the Black Saturday Fires.

The project was identified by the local community, and many community members, schools, local businesses and volunteers have helped with construction over the last three months. Around 350 volunteer hours alone went into building the track.

The new track was largely built by hand, which was important not only for minimizing the impact on the environment but also achieved the aim of engaging the community in an enjoyable activity in nature, for health and wellbeing outcomes.

The development of the messmate Track is one of several Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund projects being managed by the People & Parks Foundation in the Kinglake and Marysville area.

The project was funded by a Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund grant of $250,000 and has been supported by Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment and Sustainability, on behalf of the Victorian State Government.