Bacchus Marsh 1000+

The Bacchus Marsh 1000+ will be approximately 1km in length and the draft design has identified the potential for just over 1000 ‘steps’ – which will be about 250 more than the 1000 Steps at the Mt Dandenong National Park in Melbourne’s east. The upgrade of the existing Lerderderg Trail to replicate the 1000 Steps at Mt Dandenong, was first identified as possibility during the development of the Bald Hill Activation Plan: Background & Scoping Report which was received by Council at the March 2018 Ordinary Meeting of Council.

Following the completion of the Background & Scoping Report, further work was undertaken and Council received the Bald Hill Activation Plan – Feasibility Study at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on February 2020 with funding announced for the design and construction of the Bacchus Marsh 1000+ in May 2020.

Council is working to have the design of the Bacchus Marsh 1000+ completed in early 2021, with construction to commence in mid/late 2021. It is expected that construction will be completed by mid 2022.

The existing carparking facilitates at Telford Park and the Council Offices at 182 Halletts Way will be utilised initially. It has been identified that subject to demand additional carparking may be required at Telford Park.

In the draft design, raised crossings have been planned for Ramsay Cres and Manning Blvd. In addition, the draft design has included plans to ensure that people using the Bacchus Marsh 1000+ are aware of the road crossings and to take care before crossing these roads.

Further consideration is being given to the road crossing at Halletts Way connecting the carparks at Telford Park to the entrance to the Bacchus Marsh 1000+.

Exact visitation estimates to the Bacchus Marsh 1000+ are not currently available. However, the Bald Hill Activation Plan (hyperlink if possible) identified the potential of approximately 83,000 visitors  to the site to access the proposed 3km of walking trails (including the Bacchus Marsh 1000+)

The Bacchus Marsh 1000+ is the project title as per the funding agreement with Regional Development Victoria.

At this time Council has not considered alternate names or trail experiences (e.g. interpretation and information signage) as this will need to be considered as part of further work to be undertaken on the master planning of the whole site to ensure that it is consistent with the overall plan and objectives of the development of the precinct.

The Bald Hill Activation Plan – Feasibility Study was received by Council  at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on February 2020 and identified a range of potential opportunities for the reserve including Mountain Bike trails, All Abilities and sculptural walking trails, open air events space and restaurant. Currently, there is no timeline for the development of the other aspects identified in the report.