A PUSH has begun for the construction of a bridge over the lake at Tower Hill. Member for Western Victoria James Purcell is leading the charge to have the bridge and a new path built at the iconic state game reserve. Under the plan, the new track would be created down the north-western side of the Tower Hill interior, linking the township of Koroit. The path would be linked to the main island in the state game reserve by the proposed bridge. Mr Purcell has met with the state treasurer Tim Pallas and put forward a presentation seeking $20,000, the amount needed to carry out an engineering report on the viability of the bridge and the new walking track. Mr Purcell said a new bridge and track would have many benefits. “The rail trail has turned out to be a real winner and the track and bridge would link it to Tower Hill,” Mr Purcell said. “Koroit will be a big winner if this happens, people could ride or walk through the heart of the town and go all the way down into Tower Hill. It would certainly have a positive impact on the link between Tower Hill and Koroit.” Mr Purcell was a councillor when Moyne Shire established a long-term footpath plan in Koroit. This plan has created a network of foot paths in Koroit, reaching all the way from the Koroit Railway Station to the car park at the top of Anzac Avenue that overlooks Tower Hill. The planned new track would start at the carpark and wind down the face of Tower Hill in a westerly direction, before joining onto the bridge. If the proposed bridge and track were to go ahead, they would be the latest installment in what has been a colourful history for the landmark location. In the early years of European settlement, Tower Hill was used for growing crops and grazing stock. Stripped of its native flora and fauna, it was also used as a motorcycle racing venue and at one point, a rubbish tip. The revival of Tower Hill began in the 1960s with the planting of thousands of native trees and plants. The Worn Gundidj Cooperative has been conducting bushwalking tours and interpretive information displays out of visitor centre at Tower Hill since early this century.

Bridge for Tower Hill

Member for Western Victoria James Purcell at Tower Hill. Picture: Christine Ansorge

A PUSH has begun for the construction of a bridge over the lake at Tower Hill.

Member for Western Victoria James Purcell is leading the charge to have the bridge and a new path built at the iconic state game reserve.

Under the plan, the new track would be created down the north-western side of the Tower Hill interior, linking the township of Koroit.

The path would be linked to the main island in the state game reserve by the proposed bridge.

Mr Purcell has met with the state treasurer Tim Pallas and put forward a presentation seeking $20,000, the amount needed to carry out an engineering report on the viability of the bridge and the new walking track.

Mr Purcell said a new bridge and track would have many benefits.

“The rail trail has turned out to be a real winner and the track and bridge would link it to Tower Hill,” Mr Purcell said.

“Koroit will be a big winner if this happens, people could ride or walk through the heart of the town and go all the way down into Tower Hill. It would certainly have a positive impact on the link between Tower Hill and Koroit.”

Mr Purcell was a councillor when Moyne Shire established a long-term footpath plan in Koroit. This plan has created a network of foot paths in Koroit, reaching all the way from the Koroit Railway Station to the car park at the top of Anzac Avenue that overlooks Tower Hill.

The planned new track would start at the carpark and wind down the face of Tower Hill in a westerly direction, before joining onto the bridge. If the proposed bridge and track were to go ahead, they would be the latest installment in what has been a colourful history for the landmark location.

In the early years of European settlement, Tower Hill was used for growing crops and grazing stock. Stripped of its native flora and fauna, it was also used as a motorcycle racing venue and at one point, a rubbish tip. The revival of Tower Hill began in the 1960s with the planting of thousands of native trees and plants. The Worn Gundidj Cooperative has been conducting bushwalking tours and interpretive information displays out of visitor centre at Tower Hill since early this century.