Bass Coast Shire Council wants to hear from the community on the draft Tracks and Trails Strategy, which has now been released.
Council is responsible for the management of a diverse range of trails, located in both coastal and urban environments. With 272 trails, covering 167km, there are many opportunities for walking and cycling within the Shire.
The demand and appetite for trails is growing rapidly, particularly over the past two years, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this demand, Council has an important role to play in creating a healthy and connected community through its tracks and trails network.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan said that the draft Strategy aims to help Council create township connections through its network of tracks and trails, to enhance the experience of residents and visitors in Bass Coast.
“The Strategy focuses on the identification of the existing trail network and any missing gaps it might have,” Cr Whelan said.
“In Bass Coast, we want to offer a connected and accessible trail network that supports active and healthy communities, showcases and protects the natural environment and encourages increased visitation to the region.
“Throughout the development of this Strategy, importance has been placed on trails that provide connectivity, health and wellbeing outcomes, accessibility, tourism and connection to nature.”
The Strategy has assessed the current network of tracks and trails throughout the Shire and has identified 38 new trail opportunities to expand the local network.
To effectively prioritise the development of the proposed trail network a trail prioritisation framework has been developed. New trail projects were assessed based on set criteria and the overall score each trail received, determined the priority order and whether trails were classified as high, medium or low priority.
“We want to hear from you, to make sure that we have the right processes in place to improve and enhance our existing network of tracks and trails across the Shire,” Cr Whelan said.
“Engagement with the community is crucial to this project and any feedback we receive will be critical in shaping the future of paths, tracks and trails within the Shire.”
