Massive boost to outdoor exercise

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, residents used Baw Baw Shire Council’s exercise tracks at the highest rate ever recorded.

By Jessica Anstice

Walking tracks and pathways had never been as popular as they were throughout coronavirus lockdown.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, residents used Baw Baw Shire Council’s exercise tracks at the highest rate ever recorded.

While community sport was sidelined and gyms, fitness centres and leisure facilities were closed during various stages of the pandemic, it was recommended that people take up regular walking or running to maintain their physical and mental health.

Based on the council’s usage records collected during the year, it’s clear that the community was one step ahead.

Taking in the scenery and getting some fresh air turned out to be the best way to get a break from the home office, classroom or gym for much of the community.

Usage records were broken repeatedly since March, and over 148,000 uses were captured on the recorded pathways from July to the end of September.

This recorded quarterly figure shows an increase of 88,000 uses when compared to the average figure for the same period in each of the previous three financial years.

The new figures also trump the record set during April to June 2020 of 129,423.

“It’s fantastic to see that our community has been able to adapt and respond to the challenges the pandemic has thrown at us all by keeping active and putting one foot in front of the other,” Baw Baw Council’s community infrastructure director Cohen Van Der Velde said.

“These record numbers highlight the importance of quality infrastructure and its benefit to the community.”

The council has data loggers located at various points along walkways and trails throughout the shire, including Two-Towns Trail, between Warragul and Drouin, Linear Trail, Warragul, Queen Street, Warragul and Nilma, Neerim South Wetlands, Rokeby-Crossover Rail Trail and Uralla Nature Reserve in Trafalgar.