Council agrees on benefits of Regional Walking and Cycling Masterplan
Published on 22 July 2020
Snowy Valleys Council will look to seek funding to develop a Regional Walking and Cycling Masterplan which will identify and establish an aspirational regional network of trails and tracks across the region.
Mayor James Hayes said that having a Masterplan is important to ensure a regional focus rather than an individual one and will allow the community to be involved in discussions and prioritisation of projects.
“It is important that everyone is able to be involved in discussions around all the aspirational trail ideas and to have input into the prioritisation of the projects identified,” Clr Hayes said.
Council has already held positive discussions around providing a central planning reference to shape the scope and connectivity of existing and proposed cycling and walking trails across the Snowy Valleys region.
“A well designed Regional Masterplan is the essential basis to enable Council to pursue funding for projects with accurate costs, information on community support/feedback and projected regional tourism and economic benefits,” said Clr Hayes.
The proposed Regional Walking and Cycling Masterplan would explore a regional trail network of tracks and trails for walking and cycling, including localised track networks and connecting/linking routes as well as opportunities with regards to further mountain bike trails, white water parks and bridle trails.
The Snowy Valleys Destination Management Plan supports the development of a regional walking and cycling Masterplan and identifies that the region boasts excellent prerequisites for cycle tourism development including Road Cycling, Rail Trails, Mountain Biking and the Hume and Hovell Track.
Council is currently requesting $250,000 for the development of the Regional Masterplan as part of their Advocacy Plan and Clr Hayes says the idea has already been positively received by Government.
The completed Advocacy Plan, providing more detail for each of the projects identified as being key to regional economic stimulus in the aftermath of the bushfires and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was released in time for the Eden-Monaro by-election.
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