The early stages of planning for the Dwellingup Trail Hub project are well under way, with the Shire of Murray committing to more than $2 million in funding during the council meeting on Thursday last week.
The Shire’s $2.15 million contribution will go towards the building of the hub’s visitor centre and the improvement of the green precinct, which will include adventure parks, nature space and other recreation facilities.
The Trail Hub is one of the Murray region’s biggest projects, which hopes to create 59 full-time jobs, attract 64,000 news visitors every year, and deliver more than $97 billion in benefits over 30 years by putting Dwellingup on the map as a top adventure and nature destination.
The initiative aims to boost tourism in the area and to establish Dwellingup as the centre of an extended track network, built around the existing Dwellingup History and Visitor Centre, which would also be upgraded.
New canoe, walk, mountain bike and 4wd trails would be created to provide the widest range possible of recreational activities around the Lane Poole Reserve, and promote Peel as a prime tourist destination.
Facilities would be upgraded in five canoe entry and exit points along the Murray River including Yarragil, Stringers, Chuditch, Island Pool and Baden Powell.
The Fawcett 4wd track, between Lane Poole Reserve and Quindanning, would also be upgraded to make it more sustainable to increasing use.
Bushfire damage to 27.5km within the King Jarrah, Nanga Brook and Chuditch tracks would also be addressed, and the remaining tracks would be revamped.
The new 64km of mountain bike tracks would also enable the area to get involved in hosting national and international competitions such as the National Series for XCO and DHI and the National Gravity Enduro.
The Shire hopes funding for the project will be a joint venture between the state government’s Royalties for Regions, the federal government Building Better Regions Fund, Lotterywest, and the department of sport and recreation.