The $12,000 project was jointly funded by the NSW government and Guyra Shire Council, together with a large volunteer labour contribution by members of the Ben Lomond Landcare Group.

The project was the initiative of the Landcare members who were inspired by the council’s Healthy Highlanders program and the installation of the Guyra Fitness Trail in 2012.

Ben Lomond Landcare secretary Beth White said the community prioritised the development of walking tracks in 2012.

“It’s great that we have now completed this stage of the development,” Mrs White said.

“Another aim is to offer tourists in the region a variety of experiences so we will be undertaking further tree plantings in order to develop guided walks around the village highlighting the areas biodiversity.

“We also want to support the future establishment of a rail trail and bicycle trail and establish a museum at the railway station.”

When he visited to do the official honours with the project grant this week, local MP Adam Marshall had to earn his stripes too.

He was challenged to sdo a bunch of situps on the new equipment to prove his fitness levels – and did it.

It was an achievement for a bloke who’s basically become a couch potato, albeit not by his own choosing.

The 29-year-old, who used to run about five kilometres a day, six days a week, has found that politics and parliament killed his fitness regime about stone dead a year ago.

“I haven’t done anything, absolutely nothing, since being elected, except I have played a couple of cricket matches,” Mr Marshall admitted.

But ahead of recognising  he’d put on some extra kilos lately, the Nationals MP began running again on Monday. He hopes to keep it up.