Mount Leura project officer Grant Coverdale said it was part of a long-term vision to make the mount a premier site within the Kanawinka Geopark’s lakes and craters precinct.

Work on the approximately 300-metre track along the volcanic mount’s northern side began last week and is expected to draw more school groups and visitors to the site. “We’re trying to raise our profile locally and really generate some interest from schools from across Victoria to come in every year as part of their curriculum,” Mr Coverdale said.

“We identified a couple of years ago that it was something we wanted to do and we picked out seven or eight sites around the reserve.

“From where that track is it’s got a really good lookout over the volcanic plains so you can see Lake Purrumbete, Lake Corangamite, Colongulac and then also on the Mount Leura side it’s got a really open face so you can see the definition in the rock.”

The project is a partnership between the Mount Leura and Mount Sugarloaf Management Committee, Corangamite Shire and Federation University.

Federation University third year geology student Kirsty Delwig, with support from supervisor Steve Carey, has led the scientific aspects of the project. “I will develop signage boards that will explain what you can see there, as well as what you can see looking out on the plains,” Ms Delwig said.

The former Camperdown College student, who has had a strong interest in Mount Leura for many years, hopes to have the signs and brochures completed within the next two months.

“There will be four signage points to start with as well as at the end of Kath’s Track,” she said. “That will talk a lot about how it was all formed and what you can see, the mineralogy and that sort of thing.”

The geotrail complements the several kilometres of existing tracks at the site and ties in with the recently-completed education centre located at the base of the mount. “We’ve got our Volcanic Education Centre, we’ve now got a geotrail, so we can talk to them (school groups) a bit here and then take them off on a walk and teach them more about the geology of the area,” Mr Coverdale said.

“We’re hoping the two can complement each other.”

The Volcanic Education Centre, the brainchild of the Friends of Mount Leura group, and new geotrail will officially open in September. The Corangamite Shire and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority provided funding for the trail.