MOUNT Gambier City Council will continue to extend the city’s rail trail after receiving $250,000 in State Government funding.
The State Government announced this week it would allocate $250,000 to the project as part of a $4.6m initiative to improve walking trails, parks and reserves and main streets in regional communities across the state.
Mayor Andrew Lee welcomed the funding boost, which will contribute to stages three and four of the project.
The shared walking/cycling path will be extended beyond White Avenue in the city’s west to Jubilee Highway and beyond Pick Avenue in the city’s east to link with an established walking track at Blue Lake Sports Park.
“Council will match the funding and contribute $250,000 from our own budget, so the $500,000 will allow us to complete the project over the next two financial years,” Mr Lee said.
“The path will be extended to Jubilee Highway and Blue Lake Sports Park by the end of this financial year and after that we will continue the extension to the city’s western border at Wandilo Road.
“We hope the community will enjoy the extended track – people will be able to walk from Blue Lake Sports Park to Wandilo Road, right through the heart of the city.”
Since 2014, the State Government has invested over $20m into better parks, reserves and community facilities for our regions.
The most recent round of grant funding received 29 applications from councils outside the metropolitan area seeking a total $9.6m.
The funding will also support upgrades to the main streets in Victor Harbor and Wilmington, new walking trails in Mount Barker and on Kangaroo Island, an upgraded skate park in Port Lincoln and new playgrounds in Balaklava and Gawler.
The applications were assessed considering the state and local significance of each project, the benefit to the community, as well as the conservation and recreation value of the project.
