Bicycle Network: Directory

Baw Baw draft Budget 2013/14 available for public comment

09 May 2013. Baw Baw Council's draft Budget 2013/14 is available for public comment until 24th May, see council website here.

As a ratepayer and rider in the Shire of Baw Baw now is the time for council to hear from you if you want more funding to improve the Baw Baw riding environment. We encourage you to make a submission to council.

Bicycle Network's own budget submission to Baw Baw Council is available here.

Bicycle Network Victoria needs your membership support to continue to campaign for improving riding conditions for all riders. Become a member and receive crash cover and support, rider information and deals and help improve riding conditions.

Baw Baw riders - drafting of council Budget 2013/14 underway

05 March 2013. As you read this Council is preparing its draft 2013/14 Budget. The time to act is now for more bike infrastructure funding!

As a ratepayer and rider now is the time for Council to hear from you if you want more funding to improve the local riding environment.

Click here to tell your Council to invest in bike infrastructure (E-mail contact for Council provided) in the 2013/14 Budget.

Bicycle Expenditure Index (BiXE) 2012

15 November 2012. The Shire of Baw Baw’s BiXE rating for 2012 is $3.63. This is below the Regional Zone council average for 2012, which is $6.47. This is based upon council spending of $160,000 and population of 44,042.

Relevant bicycle related investment for the 2012/2013 financial year includes but is not necessarily limited to expenditure upon the following projects/programs:
• Pathway infill program (cycling)
• Contribution to 2012 RACV Great Victorian Bike Ride

Additional spending sourced from external grants and funds may apply, but that is outside the scope of BiXE reporting.

The Shire of Baw Baw achieved a five-year BiXE average of $3.54. This is below the Regional Zone council five-year average for 2012, which is $5.95.

See full BiXE report available here.

What's happening in Baw Baw

Feb 08 Bicycle Network Victoria spoke to the Recreation Officer at Baw Baw Shire Council, Gabrielle Vaughan, to find out what was happening for bike riders in their shire.

Budget

The Council has allocated $200,000 for 2007-08. When this spending is broken down per person ($5.26 per person) the bike infrastructure budget is greater than most metropolitan Councils (see BIXE).

Two Towns Trail

In November Baw Baw Shire Council awarded the tender of the two towns trail, a 7km bicycle / walking track between Drouin and Warragul to Sure Constructions of Warragul for $1,500,000.00.

The two towns trail feasibility funding came from the Department of Human Services because of the public health benefits of creating walkable communities that link where people live to places of interest such as shops, schools and recreational facilities.

This project is funded by Vic Roads over the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 financial years with a $165,000 contribution from Baw Baw Shire Council.

Works are scheduled to commence in March 2008, starting in Drouin, and weather permitting is expected to be completed by December 2008.

Other Projects

As well as working on the Two Towns Trail the council has been developing signage on cycle training routes and installed new undercover bike storage in the Mason St carpark in Warragul.

If you have any suggestions for the Council on possible improvements for bike riders in their area please email them.

Two Towns Bicycle Trail

Jul 07 The Two Towns Bicycle Trail, from Drouin to Warragul, is closer to being a reality. This sealed trail will be a better alternative to riders currently travelling between Drouin and Warragal using the Drouin-Warragul Rd or the Princes Freeway.

This project was committed by the Bracks goverment prior to the 2007 state election. We are hopeful that this project will be built during the 2007-08 financial year.

For more information please see the attached plans for the path (PDF 158KB) and also some background information on the Baw Baw Shire website. The current plan shows a short on-road section, we will be working with VicRoads to see if the link can be completely off-road.