Lower Kororoit Creek Trail

On Sunday I attended the launch of the  opening of the first major section of the Kororoit Creek Trail in Hobsons Bay.

The offroad shared trail between Barnes Road and Blackshaws Road is under construction and due to be complete by National Tree Day on 30th July 2017.

This section of trail was made possible by a massive donation by Toyota Australia to leave an ongoing legacy to the community and workers who were involved in the manufacturing plant in Altona North. The plant is closing in October.

Toyota Australia, the State Government through its Sport & Recreation budget, along with a Hobsons Bay Council Grant, have contributed more than 3.8 million dollars towards the development of this section of trail and artwork.

There was also a planting of 2,300 trees, plants and native grasses along the banks of the creek to celebrate National Tree Day and a tour of Geoffrey Ricardo’s public art commission ‘Spirits of Time and Place’. Kororoit Creek Sculpture Commission 2017

Altona North’s Geoff Mitchelmore is a former industrial chemist who has devoted his life to greening Kororoit Creek. The waterway had been a drain since colonial times, used to to dump abattoir blood, oil and other chemical nasties. He initially thought the Creek was a drain and was so shocked he started getting it cleaned up 
The before pictures in this Age video are amazing ! Changing the landscape

tents set up at the Reserve iff Blackshaw's Rd with free music food and coffee

historic bluestone bridge 

The Bluestone Bridge over Kororoit Creek, comprising the bridge constructed in 1889 and altered in 1912 and  the adjoining remnants of the old Geelong Road are off the Princes Highway (Geelong Rd) near Clelland Road, Brooklyn. Historically, the bridge is significant as the oldest surviving road bridge within the municipality and one of a small number of stone bridges from this era.

There is a talk by the artist on his works next week  This is one of ten along the trail