People power pushes path project

By Kyra Gillespie

A petition accruing hundreds of signatures has set the wheels in motion for the construction of a shared path from Lang Lang to the new recreation reserve.

Fronted by Lang Lang resident Renalle Casey, the petition tabled at the council meeting last month requested the construction of a shared pedestrian and bicycle pathway from the Lang Lang Township to the Caldermeade Recreation Precinct.

It garnered 365 written signatures and 496 online signatures.

As a result, council announced the inclusion of the project in their application for funding under the Growing Suburbs Fund.

Council has applied for a funding total of $1.2 million to complete the project.

Port Ward councillor Graeme Moore, who has been a key driver of the project, said it’s part of a bigger vision for the Lang Lang community.

“This path is going to provide a link from the Lang Lang community to the new multi-million dollar reserve,” Cr Moore said.

“Eventually we’re going to do a rail trail from Lang Lang to Kooweerup to create a whole circuit that will link into the reserve.

“We believe this path will get people active in many ways. Kids don’t ride their bikes to sports like I used to when I was a kid, they get driven. We hope that this will encourage families to opt to walk or ride.”

While excited by the potential funding, Cr Moore is unsure when the application will be approved – if at all.

“Which Government picks it up is the biggest question; we’ll have to wait until after to election,” he said.

“We’ve got a whole lot more to do on the actual reserve before we get to the path. It will be a long term project, not a short term one.

“To get this funding would take pressure off us and our ratepayers.”

Safety was a high incentive for many of the 861 local petitioners.

“I’m signing because the safety of everyone who will use this brand new facility is important. Especially all the children,” Amanda Hall said.

“I would love to think my grandsons could safely walk or ride to the recreation reserve,” Sue Rawlings said.

“Exercise is great for the community as is good safe access to a sporting facility,” Elise Sefton said.

Applications for the Victorian State Government 2018 Growing Suburbs Fund closed on 7 July.