By Taylah Eastwell
A community volunteer project to restore the Telopea Road Steps entry to the Menzies Creek Tourist Track is currently in the works.
The project, led by Emerald Lions Club alongside project partners Meander – a group caring for the Menzies Creek and Emerald Tourist Track – was made possible through a $20,000 materials grant from the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program approved in December 2019.
Emerald Lions Club and Meander submitted an expression of interest to local MP Jason Wood for a “community-led project that addressed environmental priorities” to repair the access steps which had become run down and unsafe, restore the drainage channel and enhance the habit by weeding and planting indigenous plants.
After delays due to the pandemic and authority procedures, the volunteer project team has finally been able to commence on-ground work, with assistance on Thursdays from three Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning employees from the Working for Victoria initiative.
Meander Coordinator Kate Forster said they are looking forward to the community now being able to join working bees on the first Thursday and third Sunday of each month, from 9-11.45am.
“We’ve had lots of enthusiasm from walkers for this project as we have been onsite preparing, and everyone is welcome to come along and help out” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity for people who have been hived away at home, perhaps lost their job, or recently move to the area, to come and connect safely in nature with others in their community”.
Emerald Lions Club Project Manager Ray Spencer said “this is the sort of thing Lions love doing. We love getting our hands dirty with community projects like this”.
The Telopea Road Steps were originally constructed in 1993-1994 by Meander, with assistance from the Lions and Rotary Clubs of Emerald.
Claude Cullino, Meander’s engineer who originally designed the steps, described how the steps replaced a “deeply eroded” track that had become a “water race”, with water running off Telopea Road down the overgrown embankment.
Meander originally constructed a “snaking rock channel” to slow the water, which has now been overgrown.
The team has been liaising with Cardinia Council which has redirected the drainage at the road and is planning to assist with drainage down the embankment.
“We are trying to make sure this lasts another 30 years,” Mr Cullino said.
“My kids and now my grandkids love to walk here”.
Ms Forster said the community will be planting 2,880 indigenous plants on the site, and there are plans to repair the bridges and boardwalks along the 5km of track with funds leftover from the project budget.
Further information about joining this community project can be found at https://www.facebook.com/TelopeaSteps
