Parklands Albury Wodonga has been successful with two Upper Murray project proposals through the Border Trust’s Big Give this year.

The Cudgewa Mural Trail project aims to bring people together to create a new place connecting people and landscape. Parklands will support the local community to collaborate in the design and installation of an arts trail along 2.3km of the High Country Rail Trail from Cudgewa township to Wabba Creek. Local artists will be invited to develop artworks, images and stories for a number of murals to be printed on steel signs and installed along the trail.

Ros McKenzie, President of the Man from Snowy River Tourist Association, believes the project will provide a boost to local business. “It will create a new tourist attraction, at the same time displaying and promoting local talent and businesses impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires” she said.

The second project will resource a Towong Recovery Ranger team to undertake landscape scale environmental works in the Upper Murray region. Lyn Coulston, Secretary of the Upper Murray Landcare Network, welcomes Border Trust’s support for the project, saying “Helping hands will certainly be a mental boost as well as an incentive to get started with important environmental restoration works”.

Working with the Upper Murray Landcare Network, the team will tackle tasks such as weed control, fencing, and plantings in both public and private lands. The project will also provide opportunities for community participation, with plans for community planting days and establishing short walks to historic trestle bridges.

Both projects will be funded through the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund Grant Program, which has been established in response to the 2019/2020 bushfires that devastated our region.

To get involved, please phone Ant Packer on 0427 926 282 or email info@parklands-alburywodonga.org.au