Photo from right to left: Nathan Vick, Josh Potter, Aaron Mounsey, Tony Turner and Environment Projects Officer Roland Herbert.
Works have started at the Timboon end of the Twelve Apostles Trail thanks to new staff recruited through the Working for Victoria program.
A crew of five will work on 1.5 kilometres of existing track at Power Creek Reserve, between Lambert Street and Glerums Road.
They will prepare the track for re-sheeting by clearing debris as well as trimming back vegetation and widening the track.
Works will be overseen by Corangamite Shire's Environment team and the track will be closed to the public between 8:30 am and 5 pm each day.
Council will soon advertise for a contractor to shape and form the entire length of the track, while design continues on other sections of the trail.
Mayor Neil Trotter said Council was keen to get the project started.
"I want to thank the State Government for allocating funding, which has enabled the project to proceed.
"Once completed, this trail will be such an asset to the local community and encourage visitors to stay longer," Cr Trotter said.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced $4.5 million towards the Twelve Apostles Trail Stage 1 – Timboon to Port Campbell in mid-May.
Corangamite Shire has allocated $2.22 million for the trail in its 2020-2021 Budget.
The Twelve Apostles Trail works crew are some of the 26 new staff who started at Corangamite Shire this week through the State Government's Working for Victoria program.
Corangamite Shire Chief Executive Andrew Mason said extra hands on deck would help existing staff deliver essential services to the community, as well as fast track construction projects.
"The whole idea of Working for Victoria is to create jobs to keep people in work and boost the local economy," Mr Mason said.
"The other benefits are more support for our residents, communities and dedicated crews to work on the Twelve Apostles Trail, footpaths, roads and other construction projects.
Mr Mason said there were some familiar faces amongst the new staff.
"We had a really good response to the recruitment drive," he said.
"There are some skilled people from around the area who just happen to be looking for work because of COVID-19.
"We are lucky to have them – it's a real win-win situation."
Corangamite Shire invested $3.7 million, including a $2.3 million grant received from the State Government's Working for Victoria program, to create 43 new temporary jobs in its 2020-2021 Budget.
