Baw Baw Shire Council has recently completed extensive works to improve drainage and upgrade popular walking tracks in Neerim South.
Over the past 12 months, high rainfall events caused damage to the Red Hill Creek walking track and the banks of the creek.
Significant works to resolve the damage have been undertaken in recent months, including:
- Increasing the size of the culverts under the walking track and installing a concrete spillway across the track to allow for high flows of water running off the surrounding hills during heavy rainfall.
- Realigning and building a rock wall along the creek to stabilise its banks and allow room for a walking track link to the new footpaths in Bentley Rise Estate.
Revegetation work will follow with indigenous native plants along the creek and within the Red Hill Creek Reserve to provide further stabilisation and beautify the area.
A short section of concrete footpath has also been built adjacent the Neerim South Wetland car park to link the Railway Road footpath through to the paths around the wetland.
Works to solve drainage issues across the concrete path around the Neerim South Wetland have also been carried out with the wet summer activating the many natural springs in the area.
Sections of the Rokeby to Neerim trail that runs alongside Main Neerim Road will also be upgraded over the next few months.
As stated by Mayor Cr Danny Goss
"One of the drawbacks of the rainfall we've experienced in the past year has been the damage to this area, which is much-loved by the Neerim South community and visitors to the area. These works will help to make sure the walking tracks and the creek can cope during periods of higher rainfall and continue to be an asset to town for many years to come."
Image: Drainage works have been carried out along the Red Hill Creek walking track and along the banks of the creek due to damage caused by high rainfall.
