A NEWLY constructed walking track in the Alexandra Gardens will be ready for use by the start of summer after work began on the path late last month.
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Local construction company Stan Hamilton and Sons is currently on the site working on the $300,000 project which will see pathways and entrances to the gardens widened, existing trails linked and infrastructure such as boardwalks, exercise stations and signage installed.
Ararat Rural City design and management project co-ordinator, Alison Tonkin said the majority of the pathway will be asphalt, however there is a special section which is currently being worked on.
"We are constructing a boardwalk at the pool end so that people can do a full lap of the lake," she said.
"They have already built a fence between the gardens and the railway line for added safety and protection.
"Now they are currently working on that boardwalk and temporarily the pool fence has been moved to get the path around that part of the lake and then the fence will go back again.
"Then the asphalt will be the next stage and we will be putting distance markers on the ground so that people will know how far they are walking, running or exercising."
Funding for the project was announced by Victorian Premier Denis Napthine in June 2013 during a visit to the region and is comprised of a $200,000 contribution from the State Government's Putting Locals First component of its flagship $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, along with $100,000 from the Ararat Rural City Council.
The Lions Club of Ararat are also project partners and are providing $20,000 towards the redevelopment for two exercise stations.
"They will be on the south side of the lake, with one located at the Vincent Street end and the other closer to the constructed boardwalk," Ms Tonkin said.
"Each station includes three pieces of exercise equipment."
Ms Tonkin said the whole project will complement the Alexandra Oval reserve redevelopment, with council working on a future plan to further improve the connection of the two areas.
"Already it just enhances that whole precinct, so from here we will look at connections between the gardens and the oval," she said.
The Alexandra Gardens precinct is approximately due for completion in November, which will allow the use of it by summer.