More footpaths for shire

Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen and councillor Graeme Moore walk the recently constructed Lang Lang footpath. 172685 Picture: BONNY BURROWS

Cardinia Shire Council is connecting local residents to their services through its 2017-’18 footpath program.
The shire will construct eight new footpaths, totalling 2.5 kilometres during the financial year.
The program will complete many of the missing links in footpaths across local townships and add to the footpath projects being carried out in council-managed parks and reserves and to paths provided by developers in the urban growth corridor.
Mayor Brett Owen said the council had worked through a list of over 300 paths from across the municipality to select the projects that were to be delivered each financial year.
“Each path is assessed on its strategic value, safety, usage and community demand,” councillor Owen said.
“Working through that list is a long-term priority for us when we go through the budget each year.
“We know there are many footpaths that need to be constructed, and existing ones that need to be connected in all townships.
“We are committed to delivering more and more kilometres of paths each year, so residents can move around their neighbourhood safely.”
A new footpath in Carnarvon Street, Lang Lang, is already complete, providing an east-west link from McDonalds Track to the railway reserve, and connecting other existing sections of footpath.
An 800-metre concrete footpath on the north side of Railway Avenue, Bunyip, is also nearing completion, with works expected to be finished around mid-September.
The council said the path would improve the connection between the Bunyip town centre, Bunyip railway station and local schools.
Other projects to be completed this financial year include concrete footpath along Rossiter Road, Koowerup, a gravel footpath from the service station in Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Gembrook to Station Street, an upgrade of the existing gravel path in Macclesfield Road, Avonsleigh; a new concrete path in Fairbridge Lane, Cockatoo; a new path on Bald Hill Road, Pakenham, and another footpath along Pinnocks Road, Emerald, to link residential areas.