Peninsula Trail
Trails for everyone!
For many years, our community has been telling us they dream of connected trails across the Mornington Peninsula for walking, cycling and riding. Our Peninsula Trails project is turning that dream into a reality by creating over 170km of trails improving connections and experiences for everyone.
Connected trails will bring benefits to our region that go beyond active living, connecting townships and delivering a host of economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for local communities and the wider region.
Help us to create a walking and cycling experience on the Mornington Peninsula that is known the world over.
The Peninsula Trails project imagines healthier, connected and thriving communities through improved cycling and walking options.
Connected trails linking the Peninsula to Melbourne will unlock major economic opportunities.
Two thirds of the proposed 170-kilometre Trails is already in place. To complete the sections, we need an estimated investment of over $62.5 million.
Council has committed $10 million to this project.
The Somerville to Baxter section is funded thanks to support from the Victorian Government (Growing Suburbs Fund) and the Federal Government (Priority Community Infrastructure Program).
We’re ready to secure further investment and create this transformational opportunity for our community.
The Peninsula Trails are an important step in achieving the vision of closing the gaps in Melbourne’s Bay Trail, creating a fully connected off-road cycling route from the mouth of the Yarra in Port Melbourne to the entrance of Port Phillip.
A second branch takes cyclists from Baxter to Stoney Point, with a circular loop also being created via Merricks, the hinterland and Red Hill to connect to the Bay Trail at Dromana. It will also connect with several existing walking trails following spectacular ocean coastlines and linking iconic attractions such as Point Nepean and Cape Schanck.
As well as providing more cycling and walking options for our community, it has the potential to become the region’s newest scenic tourist trail offering some of the best food and wine, cultural and nature-based experiences in Australia and significantly boosting our economy.
The Peninsula Trails project is a priority initiative of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and our most ambitious trail infrastructure project to date.
It has been identified as key to boosting local tourism and creating jobs. It has the potential to attract off peak and mid-week tourists and more evenly disperse them across the Peninsula.
It will offer exciting new opportunities for guided walking and cycling tours of the Peninsula’s vibrant food, wine and art scene.
It will also unlock the potential for eco-tourism, as well as Aboriginal cultural and historic tours.
Our communities are walking and cycling more than ever and have renewed appreciation for the mental health and well-being benefits of safe open spaces.
The Trails will connect many of the Peninsula’s townships to a network of safe, accessible trails, creating ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ and reducing the reliance on cars.
With limited public transport on the Peninsula, it will provide alternative active transport options for recreation and commuters, ensuring better future health for our community and the environment.
The benefits – supporting evidence and strategies
It is estimated the Peninsula Trails project will generate a total economic output of $111 million ($37m direct and $74m indirect) and support 267 (FTE) jobs (76 direct and 191 indirect) during construction phase.
The operational phase is estimated to deliver $9.7 million direct and $14 million indirect visitor expenditure and $9 million in health cost saving benefits to local residents each year. It will support 109 (FTE) local jobs (71 direct and 38 indirect).
The Peninsula Trails project aligns with:
- The Federal Government’s Thrive 2030 Re-Imagined Visitor Economy and the objectives of Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand.
- The Victorian Government’s commitment to investing in walking and cycling infrastructure to promote active transport (The Victorian Cycling Strategy, 2018- 2028).
- The localities identified within the Department of Transport Strategic Cycling Corridor and Principal Bicycle Network.
- The priorities of the Experience Victoria 2033 strategic plan, specifically the wellness and nature pillars.
Bunurong Traditional Owners are helping to shape trail design, visitor information and stories promoting Aboriginal and the wider community’s sense of place and cultural identity.
The eight Mornington Peninsula’s Rotary Clubs are working together with Council to support the project through community-led capital enhancements such as landscaping, furniture and rest stops.
Victoria Walks supports the project as a key in helping achieved its vision of healthier, connected communities through more people walking every day.
It also has the support of a wide range of local organisations including schools, businesses and tourism associations, recreation clubs, community action groups like Mornington Community SafeLink.
How we are approaching the project
Strategic Plan
A Council-adopted Strategic Plan sets out how we will prioritise each section to deliver the vision of 170-kilometres of connected Peninsula Trails.
The strategic plan consists of three parts:
- Strategic framework: Guiding principles for the project and a vision for the Peninsula Trails.
- Trails overview: Outlines trail types, potential user groups, opportunities and characteristics associated with each section.
- Implementation plan: Recommendations on the prioritisation of the Trails.
Our priority is to ensure all potential opportunities and benefits of the Trails are identified and supported, enabling the Trails to be well planned and developed, delivering the greatest benefits for the community.
Masterplan
The Masterplan for the Peninsula Trails project is currently under development, this will outline the preferred alignments for each of the sections based on a set of evaluation criteria. Stakeholder feedback has been sought to ensure we captured feedback and ideas on the alignment options.
The draft masterplan will be presented to Council later this year ahead of its release for further community input.