New footpaths coming in Ballarat

Works are underway for new and improved pedestrian linkages in the suburbs of Ballarat making a safer environment for pedestrians.  

The City of Ballarat’s footpath program for 2023/2024 includes eight new footpaths that fit the budget of $865,000.  

• Albert Street in Miners Rest, from Giffard Street to Dundas Place.  
• Smythes Road in Delacombe, from Sutton Street to Wiltshire Lane.  
• Windsor Avenue in Alfredton, from Sturt Street to Elaine Avenue. Consultation with the residents is now underway.  
• York Street, Ballarat East, along various locations to improve pedestrian crossings at intersections.  
• Rattray Court in Canadian, a missing linking two paths in the court.  
• Raglan Street, Miners Rest between Howe Street to Kennedy Street.

The footpath on Heather Avenue and Lylia Avenue in Mount Clear, from Geelong Road to Jones Avenue, is currently under construction.  

A footpath along Giot Drive in Wendouree from Forest Street to Ulswater Road beside Mount Rowan Secondary College has recently been completed and is seeing plenty of usage for the local community and students.  

There are many criteria to take into consideration in regard to prioritising new footpath construction, such as land use, linkage to other paths, volume of pedestrians and bus routes.

Proximity to schools, bus stops and shopping centres is taken into consideration when determining the footpaths to be constructed. Community benefit and disability accessibility are also considerations taken into account.  

The City of Ballarat has an extensive footpath network, spanning 994 kilometres.

The City of Ballarat Mayor said, footpaths are a vital part of our resident’s daily lives and their connections across the city.  

“We are delivering on the Council Plan, by connecting paths and trails across the city,” he said.    

“We understand that residents want us to deliver the basics, such as footpaths and we are delivering key connections in our path network each year.”  

The City of Ballarat is currently in the early stages of preparing the Footpath Strategy and we look forward to presenting this to the community for members to have their say on the important links the city needs.

Existing footpath and trail maintenance also has a budget of $1.6 million in the 2023/24 Operations Budget to keep the city’s footpaths up to standard.