Ballina’s cycleways to be even better
Ballina’s excellent shared bicycle/pedestrian paths are set to become even better.
The NSW Department of Planning recently awarded Ballina Shire Council funding to undertake further preparation for linking the existing network of shared bicycle/pedestrian paths along the coast.
The Ballina path network forms part of a grand project for a 1500 km path stretching along the entire NSW coast first proposed by the visionary urban planner Elias Duek-Cohen over 30 years ago.
The funding for Ballina will go to planning and design of two new sections of shared path.
One section will stretch from the park behind the Boat Channel at the southern end of Seven Mile beach, through Lennox Head village, and up to the shire boundary with Byron.
The other section will link the Kerry Saxby Walkway, east of the Ballina town centre, with Kalinga Street and Burns Point Ferry Road in West Ballina.
Council’s consultants, GeoLINK, are open to input throughout the project (see below), and will be conducting various open days, surveys and workshops.
Key players like Ballina Bicycle Users Group, Bicycle NSW, and the RTA will all be involved.
Important considerations will include safety, Aboriginal cultural heritage, coastal erosion and the environment.
“The coastline is one of Ballina Shire’s greatest assets. As well as being beautiful, it’s a perfect low-impact transport corridor,” said the Mayor, Phil Silver.
“Cycling and walking are healthy for your body, your mind and your environment. Please get involved with these new exciting links for our sustainable transport network.”
You can provide your ideas or get further information by emailing the project team on pathcycleway@geolink.net.au or phone 6687 7666 or post GeoLINK PO Box 9 Lennox Head 2478.
Also, for more sustainable transport ideas, check out Council’s website. Look under Community & Lifestyle on the left-hand side of the home page, and then Getting Around Ballina.
