October 6th, 2025Creswick’s Djuwang Baring costs another $300K after traffic impacts

“Unintended traffic impacts” since the opening of the Djuwang Baring all-abilities 60-kilometre mountain bike trail network in Creswick, will see Hepburn Shire Council spend at least another $300,000 on the project.
After community feedback since the second and final stage of the trails opened in November 2024, the council commissioned a traffic engineering firm to undertake an independent assessment of the area and prepare a traffic management plan for the precinct.
A report to last month’s council meeting said “the trails network has been widely embraced by riders and has seen a significant boost in local business activity, however the influx of visitors to the site has resulted in some unintended impacts on the nearby residential area”.

Key issues were increased traffic including local, non-local and commercial vehicles, dust and amenity issues along unsealed roads used for parking and/or trail access, parking pressure during peak periods and pedestrian safety risks along the shared connections between the trails, parking and Hammon Park areas.
Public submissions to the council included support for treatments including at St Georges Lake Road, the increase in formalised parking and pedestrian connections, traffic calming on Moore Street and a shuttle pick-up area at Hammon Park.
Works to be carried out immediately include: upgrading St Georges Lake Road to a sealed surface, realigning St Georges Lake Road intersection; installing speed humps and associated infrastructure (eg. lighting) along St Georges Lake Road; undertaking a speed limit review on St Georges Lake Road; implementing relevant signage across the precinct and establishing a pick-up zone on Moore Street for commercial shuttling, on a trial basis project. The cost is $300,000.
Another nine medium-term works and four long- term works have not yet been costed.
In conclusion, the council report said “while Djuwang Baring presented a fantastic opportunity for regional tourism, local business and supporting participation and active recreation, council acknowledges that it is essential to balance patronage with residential amenity and safety”.
“It is recognised that the traffic management plan will not satisfy all submissions however it seeks to manage traffic, dust, parking and pedestrian safety whilst providing the opportunity to implement a staged treatment approach, acknowledging the resources and funding available to council.”
Council CEO Bradley Thomas said funding for the short-term works would come from savings on the project which was originally costed at $9.4M but would come in at $8.8M.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: File