Footpath strategy at next step

THE City of Ballarat’s draft Footpath Construction Strategy is still on public exhibition and open for feedback until five o’clock this Sunday evening, 23 June.

The plan aims to establish which areas of the municipality need pedestrian pathways to be paved as a priority to boost community safety, activity and wellbeing, and aid transport.

The strategy will also aim to address the sealing of unsealed paths and fill the gaps where the local government area’s 844-kilometre network has missing links.

“Footpaths play a vital role in keeping our community safe and connected to others, as well as to community facilities, services, public transport and open spaces,” said City of Ballarat spokesperson, Cr Ben Taylor.

“This strategy will ensure that our community has access to footpaths that encourage them to walk to local destinations and better connects them to all that our community has to offer.”

Some key recommendations of the strategy include prioritising undertaking demographic analysis of areas which may be more in need of footpaths, looking at rate and charge schemes for footpaths where residents co-fund a local path, engaging Wadawurrung Traditional Owners in regards to landmarks or sightlines of cultural significance, and investigating security, safety, accessibility and connectivity with women in mind.

Visit mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/footpath-strategy.