THE public viewing platform at the Woakwine Cutting at Thornlea has been officially re-opened.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi officiated at the recent ceremony with members of the McCourt family and local students looking on.
“It was a pleasure to open the re-built Woakwine Cutting viewing area,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“I would like to thank Rosemary McCourt, the McCourt family and CavPower for their generous financial contribution towards the project and the ongoing support of the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay.”
Mr Gandolfi was joined by Rosemary McCourt in cutting the ribbon.
She is the widow of Murray McCourt, who undertook the massive engineering feat between 1957 and 1960.
The 1km long channel was carved out of the Woakwine Range as a private engineering work by Mr McCourt and he was assisted by a small number of workmen.
The platform at the historic Woakwine Cutting had been closed to the public for almost three years following concerns for public safety.
An inspection of the platform highlighted a number of structural concerns, forcing council to temporarily close the attraction to the public until it could be replaced.
Council completed this project with the assistance of Kangaroo Inn Area and Beachport Primary schools’ STEM students, Tonkin Consulting and local engineering firm Murrimbum Engineering.
