Recommendations to EEWG on walks to be considered for deletion, etc
At its Special General Meeting on 10 May 2017, Ruth Seidler alerted EEWG members present to the potential risks being taken by walking along Scenic Crescent in North Eltham. Ruth suggested that the walk be deleted. In the discussion that followed, it was proposed that a sub-committee be established to see whether any other walks currently undertaken on weekdays might also be considered for deletion.
Subsequently, a sub-committee comprising Jo Rendell, Wilma Waters, Mark Watson and Tony Stutterd was established. Before coming together at a meeting, each member of the sub-committee went through the full list of walks, identifying walks that they felt might be deleted, as well as noting any walks about which they had questions and/or concerns.
This group met on 28 June, and identified those walks they felt should be considered for deletion. They also proposed that the titles of several walks be given new descriptors better to reflect the walks, and also noted changes that might be made to 9 other walks.
Tony Stutterd, (chair)
Here then are the sub-committee’s recommendations:
The following walks be deleted:
• Walk 112: One Hundred Acres Reserve, Park Orchards. The group felt that whilst this walk traversed attractive bushland, it is too short, and despite several attempts to make it longer, those attempts have not been successful. ‘Going round in circles’ was the general feeling.
• Walk 187: Scenic Crescent and Ryans Rd, Eltham North. The group agreed with the comments made at the May meeting that this walk was along a road that is narrow and winding, with numerous ‘blind’ corners, and little by way of a verge. Given that there are other walks in close proximity to this one, and which are on safer pathways, it was felt this walk should be deleted.
• Walks 254 and 255: Birdsland, Tecoma (M and E alternatives). These walks were undertaken as Extended walks at an earlier point. It is felt that they are suitable in this form, or as Weekend walks, but that Tecoma is too distant for weekday walks.
The following walks be given new descriptors:
• Walk 100 Current Skyline Road: South to North, Christmas Hills
New Skyline Road: Osborne Rd to ‘Four Winds’, Christmas Hills
• Walk 157 Current Panton Hill Winery and Manuka Road, Hurstbridge
New Panton Hill Winery and Manuka Road, Panton Hill
• Walk 211 Current Roberts Road circuit, Christmas Hills
New Roberts Road to Five Mile Creek, Christmas Hills
Note that walk 258 is the one which includes the Roberts Road circuit
The following walks be modified in the ways described:
• Walk 110: Butterfly Reserve and Woodridge Linear Park, Eltham. Add at the beginning of the description of this walk the following: ‘Note that there are 5 options included in this walk, the option to be chosen at the start of the walk’.
• Walk 114: Karingal Yallock, Eltham North. There is considerable overlap between this walk and 183: St Katherines Church and Bushland Reserve, Greensborough; and 139: Karingal Drive and creek and Ryans Road, Eltham North. The recommendation is that the Alternate Group explore the possibility of including 114 in their list of walks, as it is the easier option of the three listed walks.
• Walk 126: Mulberry Orchard and Alphington circuit, Darebin Creek. It is recommended that this walk not be scheduled during the months when walks start at 09:00, as it requires driving to Separation St, Alphington. The level crossing at Rosanna Railway Station will be upgraded during 2017/18, and access to Separation St for most walkers will be easier via the Eastern Freeway.
• Walk 135: Rob Roy Track, Smiths Gully. The Melway reference is incorrect. It should read Melway 265 A11
• Walk 164: Botanical Gardens. Continue to offer once a year
• Walk 170: As with Walk 126, this begins at the end of Separation St. Recommend not to schedule between mid December and mid March (09:00 start)
• Walk 195: Westgarthtown German Settlement, Thomastown. Schedule this walk every 2 or 3 years
• Walk 215: Motschalls Track to Rob Roy, Panton Hill. Incorrect distance. Replace 10.2km with 7.8km
• Walk 132: Breakneck Road circuit, Yarra Glen. It is recommended that this walk be undertaken in the reverse direction to that described in the Detailed List of Walks. The reason for the change is that the loose gravel on the hilly section can make walking downhill potentially dangerous, whether that be on the road or on the wide verge.
Here is the new description:
132* Breakneck Road from Yarra Glen Cemetery Updated June 2017.
Commences at the corner of Eltham-Yarra Glen Rd and Glenview Rd, Yarra Glen Mel 266 J 11, opposite the cemetery gate. From here, a car shuffle will be organised, with some cars going to the corner of Skyline Rd North, and Mt Wise /Osborne Rds, Christmas Hills Mel 266 F9.
Begin by walking in a SW direction along Glenview Rd for 1.1km. Turn right at the Breakneck /King Rds intersection. Walk 150m to cross the bridge over the Maroondah Aqueduct, then a further 250m to a point where Breakneck Rd turns right to begin a moderately steep climb. On the right side of this corner is the property named ‘Gemma’. Use either the road or the verge on the left hand side to walk the 1km uphill to Skyline Rd. Along the way, if using the verge, there are excellent views to the South over the Yarra Valley river flats and beyond. About 150m before the end of Breakneck Rd a Parks Victoria management vehicle gate is reached, and beyond this several houses on the right.
On reaching Skyline Rd, turn right to walk downhill for 200m. Cross busy Eltham-Yarra Glen Rd at any point that seems safe to do so; the road has an 80kmh speed limit, so care needed to ensure adequate sightlines. Walk 150m to Skyline Rd North, and turn left here. After 400m, Mellings Rd, an old road alignment which is also a Private road, can be seen on the left (close to 986 Skyline Rd North on the opposite side of the road). A detour of about 1.4km there and back can be made here to Mellings Lookout; this is an open grassy area, with excellent views across to Melbourne’s CBD.
Continue along Skyline Rd North for a further 1km, using where possible the informal path that runs parallel to the road on the left side. The cars are parked on the corner of Skyline Rd North and Mt Wise /Osborne Rds
Refreshments at Yarra Glen Café, or Delicious, or a cafe adjacent to the IGA store.