Rutherglen resident Peter Twigg, pictured at the start of the Tommy McRae track (Sarah Street Wahgunyah) which is the proposed link to All Saints. Mr Twigg believes Indigo Shire Council should not be constructing a cycle trail in a flood plain, with infrastructure repair likely to be an ongoing cost to ratepayers.
A Rutherglen resident has expressed concerns about the proposed $5.1 million Rutherglen Wine Walk Cycle Trail project, suggesting ratepayers could be up for ongoing infrastructure repairs.
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The project, announced by the Federal Government in October 2021, is part of the Building Better Communities fund and will connect the Rutherglen town centre to the local wineries.
With part of the 48km trail winding through Lake Moodemere and along the Murray River, Peter Twigg raised concerns with Indigo Shire Council earlier this year about whether it was appropriate to construct a trail in a floodplain. This year’s La Nina event has meant part of the proposed cycle trail has been under water for over three months.
“Does council believe it is sound business practice, and that it is in the ratepayers’ best interest, to construct infrastructure in areas that are subject to regular flood events?” Mr Twigg asked.
Mr Twigg also questioned whether there had been any basic examination of the sites and terrain for the proposed routes before the application for funding was submitted.
“You would have thought than given that 22 kilometres of existing; and proposed new trails through Lake Moodemere Reserve, and adjacent to and crossing Sunday Creek, which have been inaccessible since early August, and will remain so for the foreseeable future would be ample evidence to immediately rule out constructing cycle trails in these zones.
“It is patently obvious that council paid scant regard to the risk of flooding, as they were advised of the proposed route as far back as June 2020 and were happy to proclaim in their application for funding in March 2021 that the trails would include the ‘stunning Lake Moodmere’.
“Flooding in these areas occurs regularly, so why waste time and money on a design phase in these flood zones?”
Hynes Road Sunday Creek pictured on October 28 this year.
Mr Twigg, an avid cyclist himself, told the Free Press he wasn’t against cycle trails, but said the proposed trail in question would be an “ongoing cost to ratepayers” every time a flood event occurs.
In recent months, Mr Twigg has written to council and the CEO with a series of questions regarding the cycle trail but said he has not received an adequate response.
“The construction phase cannot commence until the design phase has been completed which will address a number of key challenges,” a response from Indigo Shire Council to Mr Twigg read.
“This includes comprehensive assessment of cultural heritage, vegetation and other physical aspects including flooding. It also includes working closely with Parks Victoria to evaluate all the data and based on this, the final footprint will be confirmed. The impact of floods has been considered and factored into the proposal.”
Mr Twigg said his main concerns about ongoing costs and construction had not been addressed.
“Unfortunately, council’s main focus is to try and save face, as they refuse to concede it is irresponsible to construct infrastructure of any sort in flood zones,” he said.
“Again, unfortunately it will the ratepayers of Indigo Shire that will have to pay to remove the egg off council’s face.”
When the Free Press asked Indigo Shire Council whether alternate routes had been considered, CEO Trevor Ierino said the data and modelling for the trail was provided by industry experts.
“The final Wine, Walk, Cycle Trail alignment is informed by the comprehensive design phase. The funding covers the two project phases: design and construct,” he said.
“The flood prone areas are well known to all, and design work will of course consider this as it will the other important cultural and vegetation assessments.
“The outcomes inform the final trail alignment, construction materials, techniques and trail alignment are specifically designed to meet the requirements.”
