Yarra Ranges Councillor Tony Stevenson hopes RidgeWalk will "encourage" the use of public transport by making it more accessible to move around the historical townships of the Dandenongs without a car.

But called the public transport system that runs over Mt Dandenong “a chicken and egg situation,” because “if it’s hardly used how do you justify adding more services, but if you don’t add more services people don’t use it.”

“We will do work with the state government to lift the provision of the public transport,” Cr Stevenson said.

And according to Cr Stevenson distributing RidgeWalk carparks so people can park further out of the towns and walk in using the new track will alleviate some of the traffic issues in the peak tourist season.

RidgeWalk will do more than just link the towns and give the those keen on exercise more options though, by including five themed open air ‘mini museums’ called nodes designed to to tell the cultural and creative history of the Dandenong Ranges.

Different artists will be chosen to design each themed node which are; Activism, Country, Community, Resilience and Colour, Form & Light.

Local artist Emma Jennings, works out of her gallery in the heart of Olinda village where she is surrounded by the nature that inspires her work.

Ms Jennings said “the basic concept of having an art focussed walk through hills is really exciting.”

“It helps them make the connection between creativity and the things they see everyday, our relationship to the natural world,” she said. Upon entering Ms Jennings gallery, you will find trinkets she has picked up from her walks in the forest which she encourages children to play with and examine.

As a business owner community projects like RidgeWalk are important to Ms Jennings because they keep tourists moving through the towns meaning higher turnover for businesses.

And an artist RidgeWalk is important to Ms Jennings because it will “foster creativity” within the community and help tell the creative history of the Dandenong Ranges.

“Artists have always used the landscape here as inspiration, from the Aboriginal people who were here first to Fred Williams whose work is up in galleries all over Australia,” Ms Jennings said.

“There’s a few of us artists running galleries and stores in the hills who are inspired the landscape currently too,” she said.

Alongside the permanent art features, RidgeWalk will have temporary art installations which can include everything from performance art to interactive art.

Yarra Ranges Council have worked with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, The Bunnurong Land Council and the Boon Wurrung Foundation throughout RidgeWalk’s planning process.

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation were reached out to for comment with no response received.