Sunraysia residents and visitors can now walk or ride the entire length of the Mildura riverfront between the Mildura Marina and Apex Park following the recent completion of a new riverfront walking path.
A massive community event will be held this Sunday 15 September to celebrate the milestone, featuring a free paddleboat ride between two historic Chaffey Trail sites - the Mildura Wharf and the Mildura Homestead Station - and a community barbecue.
The event will also celebrate the recent completion of major refurbishment works to the Mildura Wharf and Homestead Wharf, finalising a major suite of works along our city's iconic riverfront.
This weekend's free community event will give residents the option of either walking or riding the new walking path from the Mildura Wharf to the Mildura Homestead Station Wharf and back, or making the journey on the river on the PS Melbourne free-of-charge.
Residents will depart (either on foot or by paddleboat) at 9.30am Sunday, arriving at the Mildura Homestead Station at 11am for a free community barbecue.
The return trip will set off at 12.15pm and is expected to arrive back at the Mildura Wharf at 1pm.
Residents intending to take part in this community event can book tickets by contacting the Mildura Visitor Information and Booking Centre on (03) 5018 8380, or dropping in to the Centre. Places on board the PS Melbourne are limited, making bookings essential.
Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism Mark Eckel said completion of the path and wharf refurbishment works would open up and further promote Mildura's riverfront areas.
"Up until now residents and visitors keen to enjoy a ride or walk along our riverfront, whether it be from the Mildura Wharf or the Marina, to the Mildura Homestead Station, haven't been able to complete the journey without taking a detour along Cureton Avenue above Lock 11," Cr Eckel said.
"With this new walking path, we can now enjoy and explore this entire strip of river while taking in some of our region's historic landmarks.
"It's a project that has its roots in our Tracks and Trails Strategy, which aims to improve cycling and pedestrian opportunities along our most valuable natural asset, the Murray River.
"Importantly, it will also provide a host of new opportunities for our tourism operators from a marketing perspective, offering more tourism experiences to promote."
While the focus of this Sunday's community event is the stretch between the Mildura Wharf and the Mildura Homestead Station, residents are now able to take to a combination of bush trails and footpaths along the riverfront right through to Apex Park and Johnson's Bend.
This weekend's event coincides with one of three community consultation sessions seeking the community's views and ideas on the future of the Mildura Homestead Station. Sunday's session run from 10am to 11.30am at the Mildura Homestead Station.
