Currently the walking track extends about one quarter of the way around the lake, with no access to the rest of it, and at points merges with the gravel road for motorists.

If it goes ahead, the trail would be approximately 10 kilometres around and would mean the lake could be used for larger events like fun runs and bicycle races, which in turn could attract people to the town. 

The project also included plans to plant native trees and vegetation along certain points, with a view to attracting bird watchers and similar hobbyists. 

One of the people involved in the project is civil engineer and Ararat resident John Hunt, who said the Board wants to keep it as simple as possible.

"We envisage just cleaning up the existing surface where we want the track, we'll walk it all, putting little markers where we want it," he said.

"We'll put in a layer of material that goes down nice and hard a couple of metres wide," he said.

"There are only a few places that would need a ford.

"The trail could be either reconstituted concrete ... or it could be gravel.

"Ultimately you could have some elevated walk ways but that's more money, and the more cost we put on this, the less chance we've got of doing it. There's nothing complex in it."

"Predominantly the Board are prepared to do all the hard yakka.

Board members, along with Mr Hunt, have been talking with other community groups who have come on board to form the project working group.

Some of those groups are the Filipino Australian Community of Ararat, Landcare, and others.

The Board has already met with Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison to discuss the proposal and associated costs.

Development Board member Rod Smart said that the trail would also need the support of groups who use nearby land, including Hopkins Correctional Facility and Corrella Place.

"So far they have all been supportive," he said.

Management would include ensuring the trail did not intersect with the sterile zone that runs along the prison wall.

"Of course, if you have a track, that does open up the possibility that some undesirables might come out here and try to throw things over the fence," Mr Hunt said.

Mr Smart said the current carparking would not need to be upgraded under the plan.

"You might get 100 people who walk it in a day, say," he said.

"They're not all going to walk it at the same time and there is carparking here - quite an extensive area." 

Other options might include opening up neighbouring land if an event attracted enough people to warrant the need for extra parking.

The project would be funded through federal, state and council grants, as well as fundraising and private sponsors. 

"We'd have to put in at least a sixth of it, and the rest would be from grants," Mr Hunt said.

As it is early days for the project, no timeline has yet been established for project completion.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.