Noosa Council is being asked to fast track planning for a proposed new bicycle path between Cooran and Pomona or risk losing an opportunity for a substantial portion of its cost being met by a state government funding program designed to increase the uptake of bicycle riding for commuting and recreation.
The idea is to link Railway Parade at Pomona and Railway Street at Cooran with a shared bicycle path along an unmade road reserve and railway land if necessary to connect both towns, saving about five kilometres on the existing road-based routes. Pomona is Cooran’s major service town.
The Cooran Earth Rights Group is driving the idea, but says Noosa Council’s decision to include the Cooran–Pomona walking and cycle path in a $250,000 shire-wide active transport strategy to be conducted in 2019–20 could delay any decision or drafting of engineering drawings that could be used to tap the $219 million Queensland Government plan to help councils build veloways, shared paths and bike trails throughout the state. This funding is spread over four years.
Noosa Council already has an Active Transport Strategy. Cooran Earth Rights (CER) is calling on the Mayor, Tony Wellington, to commit his council to the Cooran–Pomona shared bicycle and pedestrian path and elevate the bike path status to a Level A Priority, which means the project could be funded within the next five years. The project is currently listed as Priority B with a ten to twelve year project term. The state government has identified that shared bicycle paths generate $5 for every one dollar spent on their construction.
“Our proposal will be a wonderful asset for the Hinterland and ticks all the boxes for reducing fossil fuel usage and our carbon footprint.” A CER spokesperson said.
In announcing the state’s new plan on June 19th, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, said it would support healthy lifestyles and new jobs.
“We want to encourage more locals to ride their bike, and bring in cycling tourism, which means money for local businesses, restaurants and cafes,” Mr Bailey said.
Mr Bailey said across Queensland, local councils would also receive a boost in bicycle infrastructure funding thanks to $15.5 million in crucial grant funding for 58 new projects to be built over the next year: A further $11.7 million will also be allocated over the next two years to build offroad trails for bike riders, hikers and horse riders.
The proposed cycle path adjacent to the railway line between Cooran and Pomona is already included on the Queensland Principal Network – the network the state government says it is prepared to fund.
Members of Cooran Earth Rights have written to the Director-General of the Department of
Transport and Main Roads, Neil Scales, about the bike path proposal and have received the response that the department would welcome a funding application from Noosa Council through the Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program.
“Mr Scales made it clear that the state sees Noosa Council as managers of this project, given the fact that the bike path largely would be off the rail reserve and there are several landowners as stakeholders,” a Cooran Earth Rights spokesperson said.
“We need to move the Council to do something beyond just more studies.”
