Park gets back on track

By Lia Bichel
WORKS are well underway to repair severely damaged tracks, trails and roads at Lysterfield Park.
The repairs are part of major flood recovery works which started in August and will continue into the summer months.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin, who last week inspected the area with Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling MP, said the works represented an investment of over $320,000 to restore the park after it was hit by multiple storm events in March and February.
“I’m delighted to announce the appointment of World Trails Pty Ltd to undertake additional works on tracks at the State Mountain Bike Centre which was built for the Commonwealth Games,” Mr Battin said.
“On the Commonwealth Games Track alone there are over two kilometres of trail which need substantial repairs across 50 separate locations.”
Last week, Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan called on the State Government to re-open bike trails at Lysterfield Park.
“The closure of all walking, equestrian and mountain bike tracks and trails in Lysterfield Park was described as temporary after heavy rains in February,” Mr Donnellan said.
“It is estimated that 144,000 riders use the tracks at Lysterfield Lake Park regularly – they and the local community are missing out on these facilities for far longer than expected as a temporary closure.”
Mr Battin said the damage to the tracks at Lysterfield Park was extensive, but Parks Victoria had made progress and expected most of the tracks and trails to be repaired and ready for use by the end of next month.
Mr Wakeling said Parks Victoria’s contractor, Services South East had already made good progress on the 20 tracks it was appointed to repair in early August.
Services South East has been contracted to undertake additional works on an extra 17 tracks, trails and access roads in addition to the 20 tracks it began work on last month.
He said some management access tracks and trails were still so wet that they could not be repaired until the ground starts to dry out.
These will be the last tracks to be reinstated with all work expected to be complete ahead of Christmas.