Kid power has prevailed with Barwon Heads set to receive a bike discovery area and a host of upgrades to its popular Village Park.
City of Greater Geelong announced the new bike track, new bowls pavilion and greater protection of Moonah woodlands in the adopted master plan for the Barwon Heads Village Park.
Barwon Heads youngsters campaigned to the council for a bike track near the ‘pirate park’ after having to build their own jumps at various points around the town.
Among other changes to the Village Park, the tennis pavilion will be revamped, an upgrade is proposed for the shared cricket, soccer and footy pavilion, a combination of dog on/off lead and dog free areas have been recommended, and a potential site has been identified for a Petanque (similar to lawn bowls) piste.
Council has contributed $500,000 towards the Barwon Heads Bowls Club Pavilion redevelopment, supported by matching funding from the Commonwealth government and $200,000 from the Victorian government. The redevelopment of the tennis pavilion is being funded with $285,000 from the Victorian government.
Freddie Imhoff led a group of local youngsters to urge council to have the bike jumps installed.
“We will all make it the best track because we want it so badly and have waited for it to be built properly for so long,” he said.
“Everyone has heaps of ideas and can now use those plans themselves (to build it) into a track that others can use too.”
Freddie said the advice for youngsters in other towns was to cooperate with council, go to meetings and have as much input as possible.
“Look after the trees and find a space that works for older kids as well as younger kids,” he said.
“Our track will show other kids that it can take years. For us it’s been four years since we started the council letters, but if you keep going to council then eventually they will listen and (mayor) Stephanie Asher has really supported us the whole time.”
“I’ve spoken to a lot of young people and their parents about how a bike discovery area would be a popular place for kids to stay active, challenged and socially connected,” mayor Asher said.
“It’s great that the City has found a better location for this area and responded to feedback about other considerations.”
Council said the community embraced the consultation period starting in April for the draft master plan, resulting in 282 contributions through the Your Say survey, social media posts and attendance at drop-in sessions.
More than 80 per cent of survey respondents supported the plan’s vision and goals, while more than 70 per cent backed the management zones and recommendations.
