Bike riders can now cycle between Mill Park and Alphington on a sealed path, after upgrades to a popular bike track were completed.
Whittlesea council has finished concreting a one-kilometre stretch of the Darebin Creek Trail between Sycamore Reserve and McKimmies Road at Mill Park.
After being closed to the public for about a month, the path was reopened last week.
The council spent $280,000 replacing the existing sand track with a concrete one.
The works are in line with the council’s long-term plan for the busy trail, an unconnected path that runs from Epping to the ring road at Bundoora, then south past La Trobe University to join the Yarra River at Alphington.
Whittlesea eventually wants to transform the trail into a 2.5-metre wide, shared concrete pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, running from the municipal boundary with Darebin council to Findon Road, and including safe crossing points across major roads en route.
Whittlesea Bicycle Users Group (BUG) member Ron Harvey said the paved track makes life much easier for cyclists.
“Eventually it will be paved all the way to Harvest Home Road,” he said.
Mr Harvey leads a group of about 20 riders each week along the “pretty” track to the city and back. He said Whittlesea BUG has 52 financial members and is growing steadily.
Whittlesea council has found more than 28,000 residents cycle at least once a week.
The council is seeking feedback on its draft Whittlesea Bicycle Plan. Residents can tell the council what roads they feel are unsafe, what recreation trails need upgrading and where bike parking bays are needed – at communityvoice.whittlesea.vic.gov.au by December 13.
