Bellarine Times
Tuesday 14 December 2010
VOL 3. No 50
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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The festive season is well and truly upon us with carols echoing across the Bellarine on the weekend. Enjoying the festivities at Ocean Grove’s carols on Sunday night were (from left) Clair, Lucas, Erin and Jack. See more PETER MARSHALL photos on Pages 14 and 15.
ON THE TRAIL Push begins to introduce an equestrian trail across the Bellarine
from Melbourne, Geelong and regional Victoria can be realised if safe connecting paths are built and relevant infrastructure developed”. Keith said a group of food and wine enthusiasts who were also avid horse riders regularly rode to various wineries and restaurants on the Bellarine such as Banks Road Vineyard and Loam restaurant, for coffee and lunch, where there are areas for horses to be left safely. Bellarine rider, Vicci Crowley, said there were many groups who regularly met for a similar ride but were forced to ride on unsigned roads with cars and trucks.
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“The trail encourages one to discover our gourmet region, and has many packages available on the website that promote exploring the region by bike. We would love to expand this further for horse enthusiasts, but need to first ensure the safety of those visiting our region.” He said developing a north-south trail would unlock significant local tourism by opening up the hinterland of the Bellarine and allow access to wineries, cafes, farm gates and rural landscapes for tourists, walkers, horse riders and cyclists. Destination Bellarine officer, Emma Keith, said there was “huge tourism and economic development potential through visiting cyclists and horse riders
Victo ria S t
A CAMPAIGN by local and visiting horse riders to create a trail network across the peninsula has been boosted by Bellarine Tourism. Equestrians and horse enthusiasts have been calling for a network of horse trails on the Bellarine for several years, prompted by the huge increase of cars on local roads and growth of the local horse industry. Bellarine Tourism and the Committee for Bellarine are also pushing for the horse trail initiative to be implemented to address safety issues for riders and to capitalise on tourism and economic opportunities for the region.
Bellarine Tourism chair, Hugo Armstrong, said the City of Greater Geelong’s Bellarine Horse Trail Study identified the need for a north-south linear open space corridor on the peninsula to ensure a safer environment for horse riders, bike riders and other users. The study also outlined the need for improved signage, the development of off-road trails and designated ‘horse friendly’ roads. “The Bellarine is without an integral link between the north and south. It is has a missing link that we feel is imperative to the safety of riders, but also the further expansion and development of Bellarine Tourism’s hero product, the Bellarine Taste Trail,” Armstrong said.
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BY ALISON MARTIN
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