FAQ
How does this project relate to Council’s Footpath and Cycleway strategies?
Council’s adopted Footpath and Cycling Strategy have identified future footpaths and cycleways to improve facilities for people who want to walk and cycle more. Limited funding has been allocated to complete these works.
A number of factors are considered when a person decides to walk or cycle. Providing footpaths and cycleways (although vital) are only one factor.
Another important factor is providing frequent and safe connections to places where people want to go. These connections could include informal tracks and trails through existing areas that link places better for pedestrians. It is the goal of this project to identify and plan for future connections to encourage more walking and cycling, along with providing the infrastructure identified in the Footpath and Cycling Strategy.
Council’s Footpath and Cycleway strategies also need to be reviewed over time to ensure the documents are relevant to the existing and future community. Another goal of this project is to inform future reviews of these documents by providing more accurate and measurable analysis.
Is funding available to build these connections?
No. At this point, no funding has been allocated for any future connections identified as part of this project. However, part of the project aims to provide a more quantifiable, strategic approach to Council’s existing land holdings, through identifying future tracks and trails. This may result in a shift of Council’s existing expenditure to provide a more cost effective and efficient approach to funding infrastructure.
It may also provide better opportunities for future grant funding applications, and funding partnerships.
How is open space defined in the Plan of Management?
Open space is divided into four categories in Council’s Plan of Management for Community Land
1. Natural areas – these areas support a variety of habitats and assist in maintaining biodiversity, water, and air quality. Natural areas provide aesthetic relief from urban areas and form recreation opportunities within the community.
2. Sportsgrounds – these areas facilitate formal and informal sporting activities at the local, district and regional level. They provide opportunities for people to access a variety of sporting opportunities close to their place of residence.
3. Parks - provide social benefits including recreation, and community interaction, building a healthy community. Parks assist in improving the psychological, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing of the community and provide free opportunities for regular exercise, increasing self-esteem and improving quality of life.
4. General Community Use areas – these areas provide opportunities for people to access recreation, sporting and various community facilities and services within their neighbourhood, on land parcels or part parcels that for various reasons are not suitable for categorisation as another category.