Paving the way for a more active Gordon

A TOWNSHIP Active Transport Loop will be delivered in Gordon funded by the Federal and local governments.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King said the project has been recently allocated $678,825 from the Federal Active Transport Fund and will see footpath works along Main Street and Old Melbourne Road between Gordon Recreation Reserve and Paddock Creek Reserve and Old Western Highway and Russell Street, along Lyndhurst Street from Main Street to Paddock Creek Reserve, and along the Old Western Highway from Main Street to Paddock Creek Reserve.

Moorabool Shire’s community assets and infrastructure general manager Phil Jeffrey said the project links up three key recreation areas of the town, which is growing.

“It means pedestrians can better separate from the traffic, especially school kids,” he said. “It encourages a healthy community, getting people out and walking. It ticks a lot of boxes, from safety, to recreation, and health and safety.”

Cr Ally Munari said the project will finish loops and limit dead-end footpaths that just suddenly stop.

“The community has been very vocal on this as well, and it’s been something we’ve spoken about for many years,” she said.

“The footpaths will be great for active people, and for our primary school children, they won’t go home to their parents with wet runners every night!” she laughed.

Ms King said it wasn’t that long ago that Gordon had no footpaths at all, and now this finishes the job.

“You’ll be able to walk an entire loop of the town, from Gordon’s main street down to the rec reserve, across and through Paddock Creek, all the way around and then along the footpath back on the other side,” she said.

“This was a highly competitive program focused on active transport with over 400 applications, of which we have funded around 81.

“I’m pleased that Moorabool Shire has been successful with two projects this time, in Gordon and in Maddingley. Getting people out of their cars and walking in their neighbourhoods is what this is all about.”

Moorabool Shire will also contribute $678,825 to the $1,357,650 project.