Moving in the right direction: Ridgeline Trail a key connection

Published on 04 April 2025

The wheels are in motion on a scenic trail that will connect Bellbrae, Jan Juc and Torquay, offering the community a safer route for school and recreation.

Surf Coast Shire Council is preparing to start pathway works in Jan Juc that align with the Ridgeline Trail Community Vision. The vision aims to create a scenic 3.7km trail that runs along the Spring Creek Valley ridgeline.

Students from Bellbrae Primary School and Christian College Surf Coast Campus travel along the service road to get to and from school.

Council is about to construct a pathway in Jan Juc to provide another link in the busy education precinct on the Great Ocean Road. The new 65m concrete path will connect with the Strathmore Drive-Great Ocean Road pedestrian crossing, recently installed by the state government.

The path will be 1.8m wide, making it a shared path for various users: from cyclists and students scooting to school, to prams and people walking their dogs.

Works on this missing link are scheduled to begin in the term one school holidays. Access to the pedestrian crossing will be maintained while construction is carried out.

The path is a preliminary project for Council, in the lead-up to two planned pathway projects that align with the Ridgeline Trail Community Vision:

• An asphalt upgrade of the 2.6km Old Great Ocean Road – from Bellbrae Reserve to Christian College – from a service road to a regional shared trail.
• Construction of a new 1.1km pathway extension from Christian College to Duffields Road. This section is currently a dirt track.

Both are going through a design process and are scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The Ridgeline Trail is a window into Spring Creek Valley with views across the hinterland to the coast. It's an important nature corridor, home to a diversity of fauna and flora species including the rare and endemic Bellarine Yellow Gum.  

Surf Coast Shire Councillor Liz Pattison:

“It’s fantastic to watch as the Ridgeline Trail comes to life piece by piece, so it can provide a safer – and stunning – route for locals and visitors, whether they’re travelling by foot or bike. We welcome any initiative that encourages people to rely less on cars.

“While the pathway works were always a planned project for Council, it’s great that they fit in with the community’s vision.

“Council helped community champions capture the Ridgeline Trail Community Vision through our Community Project Development Program, which empowers locals to develop and deliver projects to make their community an even better place to live.”

Shauna Burford, Ridgeline Trail community champion:

“The Ridgeline Trail is a community trail that connects us to nature, to each other, to Country and culture. It is being brought to life by the local community. So many groups have got involved including school families, local environmental and community groups, and local businesses. To build the trail we have been working with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Council, state government, and utility providers.

“It will create a fun and safe journey for children, their families and others, as well as a great view and a nature experience.”

Torquay resident Lillie, who started riding the route four years ago as a grade four
“It was so fun to ride to school with friends. It’s such a beautiful place. We’d stop along the way and look at the trees.”

Emily Torney, Bellbrae Primary School Council President:
“We are excited to be the beneficiaries of the Ridgeline Trail re-development.

“This project will provide a safer route to school for Bellbrae Primary students and their families, while also encouraging increased active travel among the student cohort.”

Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal Christian College Geelong:
“Christian College is very supportive of the Ridgeline Trail project. Not only will this development provide families and children the opportunity to walk or ride to and from school along a safe and secure pathway; it will also enable students to become more aware of their natural environment and the cultural significance of areas along the trail and through the Spring Creek Valley.

“We believe the transformation of the service track into a scenic trail will be a great addition to our local community.”