Helen Lewers

Party: Greens

I live in city/suburb: Napoleons

My commitment: There doesn’t seem to be a Bicycle Strategy for Golden Plains Shire. Currently, the Ballarat-Skipton Rail-Trail is the main location where bicycle use is acknowledged, as well as a brief mention in the Shire’s Sustainability column in its “Services” section, which states “Transport is one of our largest energy users and producers of air pollution.... For those short trips, walk or ride a bike - it increases your fitness and saves you money”. At least this acknowledgement can now serve as starting point to obtain a more definite commitment by the Shire to better facilities and a safer environment for cyclists. In its Bannockburn Urban Design Framework, Golden Plains Shire to states it will “Implement the shared pedestrian/bicycle/horse riding trail and creek rehabilitation and revegetation works in a section along Bruce’s Creek from the Shelford-Bannockburn Road to Wabdallah Reserve. (However, the framework doesn’t seem to mention shared transport situations, as on normal roads; a situation that needs to be remedied). Encouragement of cycling does occur in other documents, such as the golden Plains Community Connections Plan, but as yet, this doesn’t translate into a firm commitment to action. I cycle regularly in the Napoleons district, and find that the narrowness of some of the busier roads, together with a non-existent road shoulder, make cycling under these conditions equivalent to taking one’s life in one’s hands. I will certainly encourage Golden Plains Shire to consider the needs of cyclists when upgrading roads under its control, and will urge the Shire to similarly lobby Vic Roads, so that more Golden Plains Shire residents will be encouraged to use this transport option regularly. I will also encourage Golden Plains Shire to devise and implement its own bicycle strategy. A good start would be to ensure school children can cycle to school safely.

Details on this website:

Current sitting member: no