By LUKE VOOGT
LOCALS will get their say this month on what could be Ocean Grove’s biggest footpath project to date.
Last Thursday Council Senior Strategic Planner, Jessica Hurse, and Infrastructure Projects Engineer, Aaron McGlade, outlined council’s latest draft footpath network.
Ms Hurse said the draft included 18 kilometres of new footpaths.
“To give you an idea of how big this project would be, council builds about two kilometres of new footpath each year in the whole municipality,” she said.
Ms Hurse estimated the draft footpath would cost about $6 million with council and Ocean Grove residents to contribute half each.
Council’s yearly budget for new footpaths is $350,000 and so far it has allocated $75,000 for the planning phase of the project.
Construction of the final footpath network is subject to council funding through a budget bid in the 2017-’18 financial year and subsequent budgets.
Mr McGlade said the network took into account all requests council has received from Ocean Grove residents over the years.
“It’s definitely the biggest footpath project ever in Ocean Grove,“ he said.
Mr McGlade also addressed concerns about the lack of footpaths on Grubb Road.
He explained building a footpath on Grubb Road would be unwise, as the State Government might consider the road for future duplication.
He said an alternate route would be built through the developing estates.
“That connection will be the safest for residents to access Shell Road,“ he said. “It will be a much safer route than a footpath on an 80km/h road,” added Ms Hurse.
“We are currently working with developers on this.“
Ocean Grove Councillor Jan Farrell is keen for local residents to view the draft network and have their say.
“Access to footpaths has been a huge issue for Ocean Grove,” she said.
“This type of extensive footpath strategy is not only a first for Ocean Grove but it’s a first for our entire council.”
Residents can indicate types of footpaths council should build and what funding model to use. Copies of the survey are available at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay and at Council’s Ocean Grove service centre.
Mr McGlade said council was hoping for a 40 per cent response rate, compared with the normal 20 per cent for a survey of this kind. The deadline for community submissions is 25 March.
