Byron Greens -> media -> ballinabikepath

Ballina Coastal Cycleway cops Flak

Ballina Council have recently had their much anticipated 'preferred route' cycleway on public exhibition. The cycleway has received funding from the NSW Government as part of an ambitious project to have a continuous cycleway from Victoria to Queensland.

Geolink, one of the consultants have received over 100 public submissions about the
'preferred route'. Submissions received from community groups including the Lennox
Surfing Reserve Committee, The Lennox Chamber of Commerce, Ballina Environment
Society, Lennox Head Landcare, East Ballina Landcare and the Lennox Residents and
Ratepayers Association have been critical of the route chosen by Council.

The chosen route goes through endangered ecological communities (EEC's), the coastal
hazard zone, and does not link up to existing cycleways. The route also meanders
it's way up Pat Morton Lookout and goes dangerously close to the cliffs edge in a
number of locations.

A report will be presented to Council's August meeting.

Submissions about the preferred route that has been on public exhibition closed on
the 19th June.


Sylvia Hale Greens MLC said, "The preferred route would 'destroy' environmentally sensitive areas,
There is a potential impact on the dunes, and we also have to take climate change
into account".
When asked where she thought the route should go she said ' I am an outsider, so
it's not appropriate for me to say which is the best route. I will be talking
with the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Lands when State Parliament
resumes.

Jeff Johnson Ballina Shire Councillor said, 'If the Council is going to spend millions of dollars on a cycleway, then it should provide an alternative transport option for residents, What we need
is a safe path that allows residents, including children, to be able to ride or walk
safely between their homes, school, sports fields and town. This should be our
priority. What's currently on offer is too expensive and will require constly
ongoing maintenance. '

Fiona Folan said, The preferred route is 'a waste of money', if Council is going to spend
money hiring consultants to find the best route, then the councillors should listen
to those recommendations.'

Responding to community concerns, Jeff Johnson responded;
 
Firstly, the ‘prefered route’ selected by the Council is not the same as the route
identified by GeoLINK or GHD (the consultant for the Flat Rock to Lennox section) as
their ‘prefered route’. Sections were chosen that were not even included or studied in the reports because they were viewed as impractical by the consultants due to a number of reasons.

Another misconception is that a cycleway along the coast road would be ‘dangerous’.
The proposed routes along the coast road would be built in the ‘road corridor’ and
not be simply an extended shoulder on the existing road. The road corridor runs
alongside the Coast Road on both sides of the road and is up to 10 metres wide
(plenty of room for a safe cycleway to be built)
 
Cycleways should link residential areas with schools, sports fields, shops and
beaches. A cycleway between Ballina and Lennox should service the expanding northern
residential estates by connecting residents with places they actually need to cycle
to. Currently residents (including children) are riding on narrow and dangerous
roads to get to school, the park, beaches or friends houses. This is unacceptable
and should be viewed as a priority.
 
The majority of the community has given the ‘prefered route’ the thumbs down.
This has been clearly expressed at numerous public forums including the B Ward
Committee (which has representatives from at least 8 different community groups),
and the Lennox Chamber of Commerce meeting which had about 40 people attend. (While
some people at this meeting expressed support for the ‘beachside’ route, the vast
majority rejected it for a variety of reasons)
 
The main problem with this cycleway debate is the confusion about what we are
actually trying to achieve. Is it a ‘coastal experience/tourist draw card, or is it
a commuter cycleway that provides a safe alternative transport option when
travelling between home, school, work, the park/beach etc.  
 
With limited funds available I would suggest that the commuter option is higher up
on the agenda to the ‘coastal experience’ option. The commuter cycleway could have
offshoots to lookouts to enjoy the natural beauty or to spot whales, etc.
 
The coastal walking track that currently exists could be improved and include
information about the unique environment and history of Ballina/Lennox. Moreover,
this track can be enjoyed without the fear of being knocked over by someone speeding
down the hill on a bike, and the surface wouldn’t have to be hard concrete, further
enhancing the ‘coastal experience’.
 
Tourists (and locals) already enjoy extensive cycleways along Ballina’s river-front
and parks. An extension of this pathway to the end of the north wall would be a
highlight for both locals and tourists, instead of the broken up concrete ‘path’
that currently exists.
 
The environmental constraints and issues including the coastal hazard zones and
costly ongoing maintanence have already been outlined by the ‘ultra greens’ so I
don’t need to elaborate on these issues.
 
Councillor Jeff Johnson
LennoxHead