Footpaths have long been wished for on the Bellarine to give people more opportunities for walking, improving health, reducing CO2 emissions, enabling people to get to know their community and meeting people with a similar outlook.
City of Greater Geelong is rolling out a program across the Bellarine and I hope when residents of Drysdale / Clifton Springs are contacted about a contribution to a Priority Pedestrian Network that most people are able to say yes. Although I am lucky enough to have footpath outside our home already, I am very willing to contribute to gain many kilometres of footpath.
Please consider this program as an investment in everyone’s health, mental and physical. Our group specifically focused on this subject has been meeting monthly for more than two years and we have published many articles about footpaths in our area. Our work amplifies the work down over more than 30 years to try to gain footpaths.
A survey in the first copy of the SpringDale Messenger, December 1991, asked people about their walking habits and needs for more footpaths. In the Bellarine Strategic Plan called for the vision of footpaths in Drysdale / Clifton Springs during the plan’s timeframe of 2006-2016.
Since that time all developments have been required to supply footpaths, thus highlighting the difference between older and newer parts of our community.
We have highlighted what we believe are the very important stage 1 footpaths in black and we have marked the stage 2 footpaths in dark green (see map). If you have any comments or suggestions, I ask you to email messenger@ springdale.org.au or drop a note into SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre with your contact details so we can respond.
Our group has started to receive letters of support from health professionals and we would love to receive more. If you are a health professional and would like to support this initiative please email messenger@springdale.org.au and give weight to our quest.
Anne Brackley OAM
