A section of the Heysen Trail in Cudlee Creek has been closed indefinitely after a private landholder shut their gate on Friday, cutting off access to a key part of the popular walking track.
Hikers now must use Gorge and Tippett Roads to bypass the closed section of the Heysen Trail. Both roads lack footpaths or designated pedestrian crossings, creating safety risks from vehicle traffic for walkers navigating the busy routes.
The Friends of the Heysen Trail and the Department for Environment and Water are working together to find a safe and sustainable alternative, but no detour has been confirmed yet.
The Heysen Trail Facebook group announced the news about Section 15 of the trail on Saturday, with many commenters concerned about a lack of safety for pedestrians.
“These are local roads to me, I live in the area. I would strongly suggest that both of these roads along the section marked are not safe at all for walking along and am a little suprised that anyone’s even suggesting people do so,” said Tim Van Capelle on Facebook.
“Walking up Gorge Rd, you need an ambulance either end,” Mark Lintern wrote.
Yesterday, on Tuesday the 12th of August, a spokesperson from the Department for Environment and Water addressed those concerns.
“As hiking on this section of road can be dangerous, hikers are encouraged to consider alternative transport methods for navigating this section,” a Department for Environment and Water spokesperson wrote.
“This section [of the trail] is owned by a private landholder and it is the landholder’s right to choose whether to allow access to their land.”
“Alternative options will be explored but it is too early to put a timeframe to these.”
The section Gorge and Tippett roads are managed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
