Council bows to residents’ wishes over footpath

June 11, 2008: Bega Valley Shire Council has bowed to residents’ opposition to provision of a footpath on Pambula Beach Road.

Instead, it will provide on-road cycle lanes to make travel to the beach safer for cyclists.

Council accepted that the proposed footpath would have a high level of cycle use and this could be better accommodated on-road.

Adjacent landowners were unanimous in their opposition to the footpath when they were advised in April of its imminent construction.

In a report to Tuesday’s Council meeting, the group manager of Infrastructure, Doug Mein, said landowners’ concerns related to the cost to them, inadequate notice, danger posed by cyclists and skateboarders using the path and the need for Council funds to be spent in other areas.

He said a cycling link along Pambula Beach Road would complete a network that links Pambula, Merimbula and Pambula Beach and increasing use by cyclists would be certain.

Mr Mein said the alternative of on-road cycle lanes was found to be feasible as the road was wide enough to allow parking, cycle and travel lanes in both directions.

The project would include crossing points on Pambula Beach Road at each end of the cycle lanes, an extension of the existing cycleway at the western end to link with the cycle lanes and a footpath at the eastern end to link with the eastern end of Culgoa Crescent and provide a path to the bus stop.

The work would cost about $30,000 and would be funded from Council’s budget, without any contribution from adjacent landowners.

Councillors resolved to approve construction of the cycle lanes between the two intersection points of Culgoa Crescent with Pambula Beach Road and to remove the proposed footpath for Pambula Beach Road from Council’s footpath program.