Community
21 August, 2024
Bridge opens up new opportunities
VISITORS to Timboon will be able to enjoy easier access to the town’s award-winning gourmet products – with a new footbridge across Power Creek now complete.
Supported under the Geelong City Deal, the new footbridge provides a direct link between two of Timboon’s iconic tourist attraction – Timboon Fine Ice Cream and the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery.
It will provide safe pedestrian and rail trail access, and encourage visitors to spend more time discovering the town’s scenic landscape and local charm.
New pathways to access the bridge and picnic tables have been constructed and installed to enhance the visitor experience in Timboon and bring the precinct to life.
Timboon Fine Ice Cream owner Tim Marwood was pleased with the finished product, which opened to the public this month.
“The connect between the spaces is going to be a great value to visitors and locals alike,” he said.
“It’s great, it helps contribute to the label of Timboon Tiny Town of the Year.
“It (the bridge) is in theme with the landscape, it fits in well.”
The project was supported by Timboon Fine Ice Cream, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, Beach Energy, Power Creek Committee of Management, Heytesbury District Landcare Network, Timboon Men’s Shed, Timboon Lions Club, Timboon Action and Corangamite Shire Council.
Local volunteers were central to the project’s delivery, with 35 community members coming together to plant 850 native plants and grasses to replace, noxious, invasive weeds around Power Creek during a community action day.
Mr Marwood thanked all local community groups for their support in the success of the project.
He said the Corangamite Shire Council had come on board with the project and would work to continue to ensure the area remained free of blackberries.
Mr Marwood also paid tribute to the builder who completed the work saying “it’s good to have a local builder building a great local asset”.
Bridge builder Sam Thompson said the project took two to three months to complete.
“I loved it, it was good to finish it,” he said.
“It was something different to building houses as well.”
The project was funded under the Geelong City Deal’s Private Sector Business Enablement Fund – which supports infrastructure projects which activate private sector investment in the Shipwreck Coast and Great Ocean Road region.
Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Kristy McBain said delivering the new footbridge was a testament to what can be achieved when all levels of government work together with communities to progress their priority projects.
“We’re committed to enhancing local infrastructure and to activating local economies, which is exactly what this new footbridge will support,” she said.
Victorian Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney said Timboon was a town “many people hold close to their heart”, and was pleased to see projects like these supporting local businesses to continue to grow and thrive.
“This project will support Timboon to continue to be a leading destination for tourism and economic activity for years to come,” she said.