PLANS for a new walking trail connecting the Berri township with the Wilabalangaloo reserve have been approved by Berri Barmera Council, with staff hoping the trail will increase recreation and tourism opportunities in the district.
The proposed Wilabalangaloo connection trail would start at the end of the current Riverview Drive trail extension, creating a potential 38km round trip of connected riverside trails in Berri.
At Berri Barmera Council’s August council meeting, elected members passed a motion endorsing the proposed trail design.
Council’s community development services manager Andrew Haigh said there was “huge tourism potential” with making more of the river front accessible.
“It’ll be a decent walk, but people will potentially be able to go all the way through to the Wilabalangaloo lookout,” he said.
“We’d really like to open up that view and get a few more people there and give people the opportunity to be a bit more active.”
Mr Haigh said the new trail would also help improve Berri’s ecotourism appeal.
“We’re seeing more people who want to go for reasonable walks and see different scenery and learn a bit more about the district and its history,” he said.
“We’ve got quite a nicely developed river front which connects to Martin’s Bend and the beautiful wetlands, and if we can create this connection up to Wilabalangaloo it opens up some other great views fairly close to town.”
The trail is planned to be a grade three bushwalking path and an intermediate bike track.
“We want to make sure that it is accessible to a broad range of people, not just highly-experienced bushwalkers,” Mr Haigh said.
“It will definitely open those views up to a wider cross-section of the community that wish to extend themselves beyond the current tracks that are available.”
Berri Lions Club member Steve Rodley, along with his wife Viola, helped council staff with the planned trail layout.
Mr Rodley said he was inspired to help with the project by Berri Lions Club founding member Allan Thurmer, who envisioned all Riverland towns being connected by walking trails.
Mr Haigh said staff would now engage in further discussions with National Trust and the State Government before putting the project out for tender.
Councillors also passed a motion for staff to investigate the construction of a separate mountain bike short course on the site for a future budget consideration.