Whittlesea council will build a new bridge to provide the residents with access to the commercial, community and educational facilities of Whittlesea Township Park.
Whittlesea council chair administrator Lydia Wilson and Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage officiated the starting of the project last Thursday, June 6.
The project, with a $1 million budget, will provide users of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to enjoy 620 metres of new pedestrian and cycle paths.
The 2.5-metre-wide paths, which will be usable in all weather conditions, will not only benefit walkers, runners and cyclists, but cater to people with prams and mobility aids too.
The project will see the existing timber bridge replaced with a 10-metre-long, 4.5-metre-wide concrete bridge over Plenty River, providing access for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles.
There will also be seated rest stops installed along the paths, improved street and solar lighting, updated wayfinding and map-based signage, native tree planting and works to alleviate overland flooding issues.
Ms Wilson said council was committed to ensuring its open spaces were maximised to give residents every opportunity to enjoy healthy, active lifestyles.
“By removing some of the common barriers to exercise we will see more people out and about enjoying what Whittlesea Township Park has to offer,” she said.
“This project will make a big difference to the lives of residents in the Whittlesea Township, especially those to the east of the river.”
The project is funded through matching $500,000 contributions from Whittlesea council and the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund. Completion is expected by mid-2025.
