More than 80 councils across NSW will share in $60 million to boost walking and cycling, with $10 million dedicated to supporting active travel to and from schools, as part of the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active program.
Of the 88 projects, 51 are in regional NSW including 14 around primary schools, which will be funded under this latest round of the grant program to build crucial pathways and cycleways that promote walking and bike riding as an easy, safe, and convenient way for people to get around.
Some highlights from 51 regional projects, worth a total value of $24.9 million, include:
- Warrumbungle Shire Council – $789,000 to construct several walking and shared paths around Coonabarabran Public School and High Schools. It will fill in crucial missing sections that will make it possible for students and their families and carers to complete safe and comfortable journeys to school.
- Brewarrina Shire Council – $800,000 to build infrastructure that will directly connect residents of the predominantly Aboriginal community in the Weilmoringle Village to the local public school. Currently, students and the broader community must access the school and other services via unsealed roads. The project will significantly improve accessibility by providing a continuous sealed path and includes solar lights so the path can be used at all times of day.
- Singleton Council – $5.074 million for construction of a 1.55km long walking and bike riding connection along Combo Lane and Wilkinson Boulevard. The project will deliver entirely new transport options for people living in Singleton Heights and Hunterview. The construction of a bridge over the Hunter River will provide a quiet route along Combo Lane to connect people directly to the Singleton CBD and make walking and bike riding a safe and attractive choice for day-to-day travel.
For the remaining projects,10 projects valued at $9.9 million will be delivered in Western Sydney and 27 projects in the remaining Greater Sydney area, worth a total value of $25.2 million.
This most recent round of the Get NSW Active program received 345 applications from councils with a total request worth $287.6 million which shows the strong desire for infrastructure that supports people who choose to walk or ride to their destination.
The next step will be to confirm the award of funding to councils so they can begin construction or planning phases of their projects.
Quotes attributable to Transport Minister Jo Haylen MP:
“It’s exciting to see the wide range of active transport projects that will soon come to life, positively impacting potentially hundreds of thousands of people across the state.
“This year, of the amount shared, $10 million will be dedicated to delivering infrastructure that supports walking and riding to school, which received an overwhelming amount of interest from councils. “
“I want to thank councils across the state for their commitment to making it easier for people to safely walk, cycle and scoot around their communities.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison:
“I’m thrilled that more than half of the projects successful in this year’s round of funding is going to regional NSW to provide active transport options for local communities to enjoy.
“It’s this type of infrastructure that makes our communities happier and healthier.
“There is a strong movement towards active transport corridors in our regional communities and it’s great to be part of a government which is funding the development and delivery of infrastructure to envisage this.”
