Last week Upper Murray community members, along with Parklands staff and Board members, carpooled for a tour and on-ground ‘stocktake’ of activities on the High Country Rail Trail.

Part celebration of the achievements of Parklands Landcare Led Recovery project in the Upper Murray and part planning session for new projects, the tour progressed from Cudgewa to the Bonegilla Hall, checking in at sites where work has been done and where new projects are in progress.

The tour party included High Country artists, members of High Country Rail Trail Action groups and Corryong Rotary club, all keen to build on the local tourism opportunities offered by new Rail Trail projects.

Projects in progress include the construction of a new footbridge on Tallangatta Creek – a project that will finally remove the last gap in the 80km High Country Rail Trail from Wodonga to Shelley. This Black Summer Bushfire Recovery funded project, supported by the Australian government, aims to build stronger communities by supporting social, economic and built environment recovery.

Local artists and historians are contributing to a second project creating new signage in the four unburnt Upper Murray trestle bridge historic reserves. Wayfinding and interpretive signs will bring local knowledge alive and improve the visitor experience in these unique rail reserves. This project is supported by the Victorian government through the Nature Led Recovery fund.

Parklands Albury Wodonga feel very privileged to work with the passionate and dedicated Upper Murray community to assist with the bushfire recovery and develop and deliver these forward looking projects. Watch this space as more projects are rolled out!