First round of community feedback on shared trails closes

COMMUNITY input is helping shape the City of Greater Geelong’s final design for the Barwon River Loop and Bay Trails.

The Barwon River Loop Trail lacks a pedestrian crossing from Mt Brandon Reserve in Highton over the river to Fyansford, and the city is working with the community on designs and plans for a bridge on the eastern side of the ring road.

The public’s view on how best to resolve the numerous gaps that exist along the nine-kilometre Bay Trail from North Shore through to Western Beach, identified in the city’s 2020 Shared Trails Master Plan, are also being sought.

Route challenges include footpath widening, intersections with busy roads and rail corridors, and difficult to navigate sections along the bay.

Previous feedback to the city focused largely on the trails northern end and included having to cross twelve vehicle or train sections simply to get from North Shore Road to the Bay Trail.

Geelong deputy mayor Anthony Aitken listed the Bay Trail Revitalisation as priority number one, “as it connects our northern communities to central Geelong and the waterfront”.

“The Barwon River Loop Trail is important in contributing to the completion of a return loop for the Barwon River Trail in the future,” he said.

“These projects have a vital role to play in connecting the broader shared trail network.”

The city’s latest public engagement round closed on Friday last week and feedback gathered will be used to create draft concept plans for the two trails.

The city will release the final designs for community feedback next year.

For more information, head to yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/planning-geelongs-shared-trails