Greater Shepparton offers cycling enthusiasts, pedestrians, and people with prams a variety of paths and routes to explore. Our shared pathways pass through areas of natural beauty, including forest and river environments, provide an outlook to various birdlife, and are accessible from roadways at some locations.

The shared pathway network winds its way from the north of Shepparton, at Waters Reserve, south along the Goulburn River to the centre of the city, and branches west to Mooroopna and south to Kialla Lakes.

This exciting project facilitates extension of the existing “Yanha Gurtji” shared path network and provides greater opportunities for the community to experience our natural river and bushland environment.

The extension of the shared path network provides opportunities for active living and the promotion of healthy lifestyles to the community. It also provides opportunities to promote Shepparton as an ideal cycling destination for visitors and tourists.

Background

The Greater Shepparton Shared Paths (Yanha Gurtji) network is an ongoing project providing pedestrian & cycling shared paths along the Broken and Goulburn Rivers and between Shepparton and Mooroopna, connecting important local sites such as KidsTown, Victoria Park Lake, the new Shepparton Art Museum and the Australian Botanic Gardens, Shepparton.

Discussions commenced in 2010 between agencies and community members to extend the shared paths and provide extra links between Shepparton and Mooroopna. The resultant RiverConnect Paths Master Plan is based on extensive community consultation and a technical focus group made of Council and Parks Victoria staff.

In 2015, the RiverConnect Shared Paths Master Plan was finalised and adopted by Council.

The extension of the shared paths is a strategic priority in the RiverConnect Strategic Plan.

Links:

• Greater Shepparton Cycling Strategy 2013-2017
• RiverConnect Strategic Plan 2023-2028
• Shepparton & Mooroopna 2050 Regional City Growth Plan

Current Project Works: April – May 2024

The planned extension works (Stage 1 and 2 as defined in the aerial imagery below) of the shared path network runs along the Goulburn River, west of Waters Reserve and through to The Boulevard via Waters Road, Shepparton. The shared path is to be contained within public land and is being constructed with an asphalt surface, replacing the existing informal earthen path. The formalisation of this path to asphalt increases safety, provides all weather accessibility to its users and reduces maintenance.

The distinctive ‘porous’ asphalt surface is a construction consideration for areas near native trees, which enables water to permeate to the tree’s root systems and to maintain tree health.  The new shared path is to be 2.5 metres wide to accommodate and promote pedestrians, prams, and cyclists to use this path.