Key safety improvements for walking and riding connections in Ballarat

Opportunities are being explored to address key safety issues in some important walking and cycling corridors across Ballarat.  

The locations have been raised by the community as requiring safety improvements.  

City of Ballarat wants to hear your feedback, as to how these links could be improved for everyone’s safety and accessibility. This will assist future planning and budget opportunities.  

The City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said feedback from the people that use these links already will be vital in developing a plan to make them safer.  

“As Ballarat grows, it is important that both locals and visitors can get around safely and comfortably, whether they are walking, cycling or driving,” he said.  

Wendouree Parade

Lake Wendouree is a busy area for visitors and residents alike. The Lake Wendouree Masterplan identifies some key principles that will be investigated in this consultation. They include:  

• Pedestrians and cyclists should be given priority on the Lake foreshore.  
• Paths should be safe and well connected.  
• Connections to Victoria Park, Wendouee Railway Station and nearby schools should be explored.  

Creswick Road

It is a busy arterial route, that includes at the northern end an off-road trail which is popular for walking and cycling. However, in sections with service roads these are discontinuous for cyclists due to the current layout. This project is seeking opportunities to make this route safer and more convenient for people walking and riding a bike in and out of the CBD to the North.  

Link from Gilles Street to Lucas  

The current off-road cycling path along Victoria Park finishes at Gilles Street, and people travelling west towards Alfredton and Lucas then have a disjointed journey, via service roads, and some that are one-way preventing a safe and continuous journey.  

The project aims to utilise existing service roads where possible, considering safety improvements such as crossings, speed management, wayfinding and other interventions.  

Feedback is now open for all three connections on the City of Ballarat’s Mysay page until Thursday 5 September 2024.

Forest Street  

Feedback on the Forest Street Active Transport Corridor project was collated in March and April this year, to determine what opportunities there were to make the Wendouree connection more accessible and enjoyable for people walking and cycling.  

Forest Street is a key transport link in Wendouree for residents to get to local businesses, shops, schools, early learning centres, community facilities and Lake Wendouree.  

Now the concept designs have been developed based on the first round of community consultation, the community is invited to view the designs and let us know what they think.  

Feedback from this round of consultation will help finalise the concept designs. The City of Ballarat will share the final designs with the community in the new year to ensure the designs reflect what the community needs.  

Sutton Street Shared Path

The construction of a 1.2 kilometre shared path, extensive tree planting, priority raised crossings and other improvements from Victoria Park past Morshead Park, via Sutton Street will commence construction shortly.  

This is the first stage of a new trail network connecting through the southern suburbs linking Victoria Park to Doug Dean Reserve and ultimately west to Kensington Creek Reserve and Delacombe Town Centre. It is part of the Trails and Connections project.  

The project aims to create safe and healthy connections for cyclists, walkers, runners and pedestrians across Ballarat’s open spaces.    

It is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.  

For more information, please visit mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au.