Community support for Kalaru to Bega shared path
MEDIA RELEASE 2021 - Community feedback on four draft route alignments for a future Kalaru to Bega shared path has been completed, with over 245 surveys completed.
Community feedback will inform the feasibility study for a future shared path from Kalaru to Bega
29 October 2021
Community feedback on four draft route alignments for a future Kalaru to Bega shared path has been completed, with over 245 surveys completed.
Bega Valley Shire Council Project Services Manager, Daniel Djikic said the community response shows significant support for a Kalaru to Bega shared path, if and when funding becomes available.
“We wanted to understand how the community would use a shared path between Bega and Kalaru, which of four proposed routes they thought would be best, and how important things like amenity and signage are compared to safety.
“We had a great response to the survey, with the majority of respondents saying they ride their bikes for recreation and exercise (66%), followed by accompanying children as they ride (24%).
“Safety was a key issue, with 90% of respondents telling us they’d prefer a dedicated space to ride their bike, separated from vehicle traffic, rather than riding on the road.
“Almost half of the respondents said they would use the shared path at least a few times a week, but we anticipate the actual use would be higher once you consider visitors and tourists—we know a lot of people bring their bikes when visiting the far south coast, so it’s highly likely this would be well used by our visitors and tourists too.”
Taking into account survey responses and comments, the most popular route alignment would see a shared path following the road from Kalaru to Bega along Jellat Jellat flats and Tathra Road, terminating at the intersection into Upper Street at the showground.
“The feedback from the survey, combined with feedback from Bicycle NSW, Bega Tathra Safe Ride and the landholders along that stretch of road, will inform the next steps of the feasibility study where we’ll map out the finer details and potential costs,” Mr Djikic said.
“Once that’s complete, we’ll provide a report to Council in the new year. If endorsed by Council, we’ll seek a second round of community input on the details of the proposed shared path, before we start looking for funding opportunities in line with our operational priorities and other commitments.
Importantly, Council only has funding for the feasibility study at this stage, with the outcome of the study to form the basis of future funding applications.
The feasibility study was made possible through the NSW Government’s Active Transport Funding.
More information is available on Council’s website at https://begavalley.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-EEV-00-84-55
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