Rail trail push proposed

A NEW vision to lure more people to explore the Great Southern Rail Trail was presented to South Gippsland Shire Council last Wednesday.
A new logo, brochure, postcards, website and app could promote the trail within the region and further afield.
The proposal also calls for more infrastructure along the trail, such as new signs, shelters, horse yards and possibly sculptures.
Grand features at either end of the trail at Leongatha and Port Welshpool were suggested.
The concepts were suggested in the Great Southern Rail Trail Marketing and Branding Project council commissioned.
Steve Jones of Heine Jones consultancy presented the final plan to council at a public briefing at the Leongatha chambers last Wednesday.
“It is one of the closest rail trails to Melbourne, especially at the Leongatha end of the trail, so there is a product that can be built on,” he said.
The logo design is based on the trail’s railway heritage, influenced by a Victorian railways insignia from the 1930s.
At the centre is a large ‘G’ (for great), with wings either side reflecting the art deco architecture of Leongatha and Fish Creek.
The logo’s green and blue were inspired by the farmland and ocean, and the logo would include the words “Great Southern Rail Trail” or “GSRT”.
In some uses, the logo would be accompanied by graphics of a horse rider, cyclist and walker, reflecting the three main uses of the trail.
Cr Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks suggested the walker be leading a dog to clarify people can walk dogs on a lead on the trail.
Each section of the trail will be allocated a colour scheme, that will carry over to the pocket sized brochure and postcards based on sections of the trail.
Three maps were proposed, showing the entire route, sections and gradients, and the new website will invite people to “retrace Australia’s most southern mainland rail line”.
The report recommended new bench seats and picnic tables, and called for bike racks to be installed in towns.
Other ideas raised by the plan include bike hire facilities, transport services for cyclists, inviting more Wilsons Promontory visitors to explore the trail, appealing to younger people, and attracting visitors during autumn and spring.
Sculptures in “ordinary” locations were also suggested, including an elephant to reflect the tale of a circus that folded near Alberton and the subsequent sale of circus animals – including an elephant – to local farmers.
The marketing project was funded by Regional Development Victoria and council, as part of the extension of the trail from Foster to Welshpool.
That included some funding for the website and brochure, but more money could be needed for signs and sculptures.
Mr Jones suggested the launch of the trail’s re-branding be delayed until the missing link at the Black Spur between Koonwarra and Meeniyan is completed.

By Brad Lester

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Posted by Laura Gibb on Feb 24 2015. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry