UPDATE
THE opening of the Bayview Conservation Area due to be held on Saturday has been postponed until Saturday, April 28.
A Redland City Council spokesperson said the event had been cancelled due to a Bureau of Meteorology forecast of continuing wet weather.
The opening was cancelled in an effort to minimise damage to the new day use area and trails during the wet weather.
Ranger Stacey will still attend next month.
The entrance and facilities at Bayview will be open for use from March 24
EARLIER
TOTALLY Wild’s Ranger Stacey will be at the opening of a $1.3 million day use facility at Bayview Conservation Area on Saturday.
Residents are invited to attend on foot, horseback or mountain bike.
The event from 7.30am to 10.30am will include a free barbecue and wildlife display.
Mayor Karen Williams encouraged Redlanders to take advantage of the opportunity to be one of the first to see the world-class facility.
“The $1.3 million upgrade has transformed a vacant grassed area into a family-friendly outdoor recreational destination for residents and visitors,” Cr Williams said.
“Bayview already has a great reputation, and the new facilities cement its place as a fantastic regional facility for trail users including walkers, runners, mountain bike riders and horse riders and outdoor events.
See the map of the Bayview Conservation Area:
“It’s a great time to launch these upgrades – with our proximity to the Commonwealth Games, we hope visitors from around the world will take the opportunity to see what we have to offer.
Cr Williams said 25,000 natives would be planted in the reserve in the next month as part of council’s One Million Native Plants Project.
Cr Julie Talty said the day use area made Bayview more accessible and user-friendly and works included adding two shared-use trails and the gentle-gradient Banksia Walking Trail.
“There’s now a large covered barbecue area, signage, picnic tables and seating, a bike wash-down area, horse and bike stations, toilets, and access to power and water,” she said.
Cr Talty said rain had delayed completion of the upgrade but visitors would get an idea of what was to come.
“Bayview is our largest mainland conservation area in Redland City and is a superb example of recreation co-existing within areas of high conservation value.
“Almost 60 kilometres of trails of varying difficulty wind their way through 1000 hectares of diverse vegetation including open forest, melaleuca wetlands, riparian areas and stands of grass trees and banksia.”
Event updates will be provided on the council’s Facebook page, in case of wet weather.
The event is on Saturday, March 24 from 7.30am to 10.30am at the day use area 487-503 German Church Road, Redland Bay.
Official presentations will start at 8am.