Chris Davies (L) and Zara Lupton (R) with Matt Cowdrey MP, Member for Colton and Tuesday Udell, Walking SA Chair. The Willunga Basin Trail Inc won a Walking Award: Special Recognition Award – Group Organisation for the Willunga Basin Trail development. The Willunga Basin Trail group has instigated and is now delivering a new trail that will encourage walking and connection to local stories.
For the Willunga Basin Trail development
The Willunga Basin Trail Inc has instigated and is now delivering a new trail that will encourage walking and connection to local stories. The project is a work-in-progress to construct a 120km walking trail circumnavigating the Willunga Basin south of Adelaide.
The project was initiated by a dedicated group of local walkers and volunteers who have persisted for over a decade to bring their vision to a reality. The trail will link the coastal zone along Sellicks, Maslins and Moana though to the wine areas of McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat and Willunga then into Onkaparinga National Park, before looping over to Kangarilla and Kuitpo Forest.
The trail will take in a diverse array of landscapes, and uses road reserves to link existing shorter trails – a conscious decision to preserve both the road reserves and secure future access of the trail.
The group tested its vision practically by organising walks in proposed areas and identifying preferred routes. The group has collaborated with the City of Onkaparinga council, the Department for Environment and Water, Forestry SA, local landholders and traditional owners in relation to the significance of the washpool and Tjilbruke story. After receiving a $78,000 grant in 2018 from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing volunteers from the group are out most weeks digging post holes, installing stiles and weeding.
The group has grown from and continues to be an active walking group that encourages its members to get out in nature with a regular weekly Friday walk.
