Cement Creek Redwood Forest facility upgrades

Project status

Project timeline image - works start early 2025, works expected to be completed late 2025.

  • Parks Victoria has appointed Warrandale Industries to construct the new visitor facilities. Works are expected to start in the coming weeks. During construction, some areas of the park will be temporarily closed to the public to ensure the safety of our visitors, contractors and staff. For up-to-date information on access changes in the park, please refer to the Redwood Forest park page. 
  • Designs for works being delivered by Parks Victoria at the Cement Creek Redwood Forest can be viewed below or read more about them here.
  • Town planning and Heritage Victoria permits have been received and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved. 

 

The project timeline is subject to on-ground and construction industry conditions, environmental assessments and adhering to town planning and cultural heritage assessment conditions. The timeline will be updated as the project progresses.

Last updated: March 2025


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The project

This project is being delivered on Wurundjeri Country. 

The Cement Creek Redwood Forest in the Yarra Ranges National Park has become an increasingly popular site for visitation over the last few years thanks to the enchanting and photogenic Californian Redwood trees.

Visitors to the Yarra Ranges National Park will soon enjoy greater accessibility, new facilities and increased protection of the environment through the projects at the Redwood Forest.

Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and Yarra Ranges Council are working together to deliver improved visitor facilities to manage increased visitation at the site while ensuring the environment’s natural values are protected. These works will include:

Parks Victoria works:

  • Adding more car parking spaces
  • Constructing an accessible public toilet facility
  • Installing a visitor safety gate
  • Constructing a visitor shelter 
  • Formalising sections of the existing trail network

 

Melbourne Water works:

  • Construction of boardwalks, viewing platforms and fencing to support visitor accessibility and additional open space opportunities
  • Re-vegetation along the Cement Creek and the Yarra River to improve river health and provide habitat


Contact Melbourne Water for more information on these works. 

 

Yarra Ranges Council works: 

  • Upgrading the Cement Creek Road Bridge to increase the load limit (complete)
  • Re-surfacing of Cement Creek Road between the bridge and entrance to Redwood Forest (complete)


View the Yarra Ranges Council project page for more information. 

 

Environmental, Aboriginal cultural heritage and Heritage Victoria assessments and approvals will inform exactly where, when and how components of the project are delivered.  

 

 

A map showing the final design for upgrades planned at the Cement Creek Redwood Forest in Warburton, as per April 2025. 

Pictured above (updated 9 April 2025): Parks Victoria will deliver new and upgraded facilities including improved car parking, an accessible toilet facility, a visitor safety gate, shelter and the formalisation of sections of the existing trail network. After going out to tender, the final budget remaining has meant that in addition to the Priority A trails, we can also formalise Priority B and Priority C trails as part of this project. This means more opportunities for visitors to explore the Redwoods, and greater protection for the plants and wildlife in the area (click to enlarge). 


Project benefits

Visitors

The improvements delivered through this project will improve access for diverse visitors to experience the Redwood Forest, with a new accessible public toilet and wet weather shelter.

Environment

The project includes environmental protection works from both Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water to minimise the impacts of visitation to the site.

Works delivered by Parks Victoria will include formalising sections of the existing trail network, and closing some informal trails, which will reduce the site's exposure to foot traffic. This will help protect the forest understorey and replenish important habitat that provides a home for plants and wildlife.

Works delivered by Melbourne Water will include the construction of boardwalks, viewing platforms and fencing, as well as re-vegetation, along the Cement Creek and the Yarra River. These improvements will reduce the impacts of foot traffic, improve river health and provide and protect native habitat. 

Community 

The project involves adding more car parking at the site, which will reduce traffic impacts and safety issues on the road for the local community, and also support tourism opportunities in the area.

 

Project funding

Parks Victoria's portion of works is being made possible thanks to the following funding:

  • $2.3 million from the Victorian Government's Regional Tourism Investment Fund - Stimulus
  • An additional $300,000 from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Melbourne Water is also investing $400,000 to deliver its portion of works. This project will run concurrently with the project being delivered by Parks Victoria. 

 

Environment and cultural heritage management

A key objective of this project is to complete environmental protection works and to minimise future impacts of visitation. This will be delivered through formalising sections of the existing trail network, re-vegetating the creek and riverbed and closing some informal trails.

We are working with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to develop and implement a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the site, to ensure the cultural values of the site are protected. 


Who we're working with

 

Access changes

March  - September 2025: 
During construction, some areas of the park will be temporarily closed to the public to ensure the safety of our visitors, contractors and staff. For up-to-date information on access changes in the park, please refer to the Redwood Forest park page on the Parks Victoria website.

 

Putting safety first

Visitor safety is our number one priority when considering risk in parks. While nature will always be unpredictable, our projects and maintenance works help minimise risks and help people explore the great outdoors safely.

Parks Victoria is responsible for continuously managing and maintaining over 50,000 pieces of infrastructure across the state annually. We’re also delivering new projects to help visitors get into nature. These are thoroughly planned and prepared to keep people and projects separate – and safe.

When visiting a park where projects are happening, especially during construction, it’s important that people follow the direction of signs, stay out of fenced and restricted areas, and listen to Parks Victoria staff and work crews.

 

Related information 

 

FAQs

What is being delivered as part of the Warburton Redwood Forest facility upgrades project? 
The project being delivered by Parks Victoria will provide additional car parking spaces, accessible toilets, visitor safety gates and shelters, and will also formalise sections of the existing trail network. Melbourne Water is also delivering new boardwalks, viewing platforms, fencing and re-vegetation along Cement Creek and the Yarra River. 

Why are you upgrading the Redwood Forest? 
The Cement Creek Redwood Forest in the Yarra Ranges National Park has become an increasingly popular site over recent years due to the enchanting and photogenic Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees. Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water are improving visitor facilities to manage increased visitation at the site while ensuring the environment’s natural, cultural and historical values are protected.

How will formalising the trails assist in protecting the habitats and ecosystems at the Redwoods?
As with many of our special green spaces, the Cement Creek Redwood Forest site is made up of various ecosystems and provides important habitat for local plants and wildlife. Increased visitation means the park’s unique Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees and the surrounding habitat are regularly exposed to the impacts of foot traffic, causing damage over time. By formalising the trails through the park, visitors will be able to explore the wonders of the park’s towering forest and bubbling waters of Cement Creek and the Yarra River, while ensuring the surrounding plants and wildlife can not only survive, but flourish.

When will the upgrades be built?
Construction of Parks Victoria's portion of works is expected to start in early 2025, subject to procurement and on-ground and construction industry conditions.

How is the project being funded?
Parks Victoria's portion of works is being funded by $2.6 million from the Victorian Government, including $2.3 million from the Regional Tourism Investment Fund - Stimulus, and $300,000 from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Parks Victoria will deliver additional car parking, an accessible public toilet, a safety gate and wet-weather visitor shelter, and will manage visitor impacts by formalising the existing trail network.

In addition to the project being delivered by Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water is also investing $400,000 to construct boardwalks, viewing platforms and fencing, as well as undertake re-vegetation, along the Cement Creek and the Yarra River. This project will run concurrently with the project being delivered by Parks Victoria. 

What Aboriginal cultural heritage protection is being undertaken?
We are working with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to develop and implement a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to ensure the cultural values of the site are protected.

Will there be access restrictions to the Redwood Forest while the Parks Victoria upgrades are happening?
During construction, some areas of the park will be temporarily closed to the public to ensure the safety of our visitors, contractors and staff. For up-to-date information on access changes in the park, please refer to the Redwood Forest park page on the Parks Victoria website.

How can I stay up-to-date with project progress?
For more information about the project and to stay up to date with progress, subscribe to our community newsletter or email us at engage@park.vic.gov.au.

 

 

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