There are many ways we can remain active.
Last month, I visited the St Leonards Bowling Club, where they have used a council grant to offer free strength and mobility classes for residents aged over 65.
While structured programs such as this help keep people engaged, there are many other ways to improve your physical health.
Council also provides the public open space, recreation facilities and the infrastructure that encourages people to move.
This can be for a direct purpose – such as to access shops or services – or for recreation and exercise.
In Ocean Grove, we have had a long-term focus on improving the footpath network.
Work is about to begin on the first stage of the new paths in the ‘old’ Ocean Grove and Collendina areas.
Construction of this 24.3km network has been a long time coming.
Given the shared funding arrangement, council made sure there was strong support from the community and the project met the needs of those it would serve.
Once completed, the pathways will make it safer and easier to access schools, public transport and businesses.
Stage 1A works are being carried out on:
• Aldebaran Road
• Marlin Drive
• Shell Road East (Aldebaran Road to Bonnyvale Road)
• Shell Road West (Reserve Entrance to BASC)
• Thacker Street (Blue Waters Drive to Field Street North); and
• Thacker Street (Wallington Road to Blue Waters Drive).
For more information, and progress reports, you can visit our website geelongaustralia.com.au/ogppn or view hard copies at the Ocean Grove Library.
Outside of footpaths, council is also upgrading our shared trails.
At the northern point of the Bellarine, Beacon Point Road, you’ll find one of our most recent projects.
With $360,000 from the state government and $180,000 from council, we’ve designed and built a new 800m concrete shared trail.
Starting at a beach access point opposite Cantata Way, the trail follows the cliff’s edge to Beacon Point Reserve, before connecting to the residential area on High Ridge Drive.
It’s a stunning part of the region, and a great place to spend time in.
With full 180-degree views across the bay, it should be a very popular experience for pedestrians, dog walkers and bike riders and encourage more use of the area.
The path works are complemented by park furniture and an array of native and indigenous species, making it an enjoyable place to relax in, as well as move through.
Council is keen to explore further opportunities to improve our networks on the Bellarine.
Officers are carrying out feasibility assessments and looking at concepts for shared trail connections between Bellarine townships, and I’m keen to see this work progress.
Lastly, another project we’re pursuing is the revitalisation of the Bay Trail, along a northern stretch of the waterfront.
This proposal aims to create nine kilometres of enhanced trail from North Shore through to Western Beach Foreshore.
This project was identified in council’s Shared Trails Master Plan as the highest priority to address trail gap and deficiency issues, so it’s important we get it right.
Feedback is being taken on this proposal before 22 October at yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/baytrail.
