North East bushland historic walk section permanently blocked to public

Closing the Wandi Walk circuit, which connects Bright to Wandiligong, drew the ire of nature lovers in 2023 when they were confronted with electric fences blocking walkers from passing through the creekside edge of a property.

A report commissioned by Alpine Shire Council and released last week established there was no public right of way across two freehold properties abutting Morses Creek the walk passed through.

"Morses Creek has shifted west over time, and its current path now runs through private property," the council's chief executive Will Jeremy said.

Mr Jeremy said public land specialists who compiled the report found there was no longer any public land between the private properties and Morses Creek.

The walk follows the creek from where it joins with the Ovens River in Centenary Park through to Wandiligong.

The path was predominantly on Crown land alongside the Creek.

Mr Jeremy said the section of the trail encroaching freehold land was unlikely to be reopened to the public.

"Our future options in relation to the Wandi Walk remain limited to available public land," he said.

"Council will decide next week whether to continue to investigate the feasibility of bypassing private land to maintain the Wandi Walk as a continuous walking trail."

Two residents, former Alpine Shire councillor Kate Farrell, and Wandiligong land owner Bernard Eden, had previously vigorously fought to maintain public access to the walk.

After an electric fence was erected blocking access to one landholder's property on the track, which had no stock on it, Ms Farrell was furious.

"Residents, especially members of the U3A walking group, were dismayed to see signs warning of the danger and locking them out of the walk," she said.

A property owner had erected a sign nearby that stated the "historic value" of the walk had been exaggerated and that the closure was necessary for public liability reasons.

"We are unable to obtain insurance for our property as long as we allow the public to cross our private land," the sign read.