New path leads to active communities

FURTHER progress has been made on Gateway Park after the official opening of a new boardwalk and connected footpath at the Kangaroo Flat site last Wednesday.

The $200,000 works funded and led by the Healthy Heart of Victoria initiative build on the park’s master plan objectives to increase accessibility for all people who choose the region’s most popular form of exercise, according to mayor Cr Jennifer Alden.

“The 2019 Active Living Census told us that walking is the most popular form of physical activity in Greater Bendigo and it really makes sense that we should invest in that,” she said.

“Particularly post-COVID we know that people have been walking even more and that’s gone into a lot of our work thinking about our budget in the next year and the type of infrastructure we want to invest in that encourages people to be active, but also in a safe way, and that’s where some of the improvements have happened in this precinct”

City health and wellbeing director Vicky Mason said the new 46-metre-long, 2.5-metre-wide path is a sustainable addition to the park and further works will encourage more community activity.

“As part of the installation of the boardwalk, which is made from sustainably sourced hardwood, 2000 new plants will also be planted to regenerate the area and create an enjoyable natural walking and cycling experience around the waterway,” she said.

“In addition, Healthy Heart of Victoria has also supported the installation of other infrastructure in the Kangaroo Flat area such as outdoor fitness equipment, solar lighting, new seating and other path connections to help the local community to be more active.”

Free exercise sessions with the new equipment are also available to the community as part of the initiative, with qualified instructors leading classes until 4 June along the Bendigo Creek Trail. To book a session visit bendigo.vic.gov.au/outdoorspaces.