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Bike Path Funding Allocated Elsewhere Latrobe Valley residents who have long advocated for increased bike path networks in the local community have once again been let down by the Brumby Government with news that another Gippsland bike will By Russell Northe - 19th October 2010 - Back to News receive a $100,000 grant for beautification works.
The Two Towns Trail between Drouin and Warragul has received a Creating Better Places grant from the Brumby Labor Government to encourage locals to be more active by creating gateway features and road crossing points.
Whilst this is great news for the Warragul and Drouin communities, Latrobe Valley bike enthusiasts are left scratching their heads as to why projects such as the Morwell to Traralgon bike path are still stuck on first base, said Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe.
Mr Northe, who has advocated in Parliament for a similar cycle link connecting the townships of Morwell and Traralgon, said the lack of support for a Latrobe Valley plan has been disappointing.
"There are obviously a number of benefits to having a bike path built between these two towns, and hopefully in due course, between more of our towns. I have already tabled 219 signatures in Parliament recently, from members of the community who understand the benefits of what this infrastructure would bring to our region.
"As the Brumby Government has allocated $100,000 to this project in Drouin and Warragul, I trust they will look favourably on funding at the very least for a feasibility study for a Morwell to Traralgon cycle link.
"I recently wrote to the Minister for Roads and Ports, asking for reasons why the feasibility study has previously been denied funding. I have now received a response from his Chief of Staff which mainly highlights funding is made available through the Victorian Cycling Strategy.
"A reference in The Victorian Cycling Strategy plan itself states that "there is a need to upgrade and complete missing links in the off-road and on-road bicycle networks in many cities and towns of regional Victoria including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Benalla and the Latrobe Valley.
"Unfortunately despite references in the Victorian Cycling Strategy; the Victorian Parliament’s Rural and Regional Committee’s Inquiry into Rural and Regional Tourism and Latrobe City’s Cycling Strategy 2006-2010, the Morwell to Traralgon cycle link project sits idle with no apparent support from Government.
"The letter then goes on to state that Latrobe City Council will resubmit the feasibility study proposal in the 2011/12 program, and the proposal will be considered in the context of state wide priority, which is cold comfort to local residents who have been waiting for many years for action.
"I believe the creation of links between our towns which promotes healthy and active lives is far more important that the ‘beautification’ of an already established link and the lack of support shown by the Brumby Government has been appalling.
"This is incredibly frustrating, and I will be continuing to make representation on this issue on behalf of the Latrobe Valley community."
Media: Russell Northe 0408 22 55 23 / Julia Auciello 5133 9088
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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