Residents in Boggabri, Narrabri and Wee Waa have this week been given an opportunity to have their say on a draft plan for walk and cycle lanes.
Narrabri Shire Council has engaged the services of Zwart Transport Planning to design a walk and cycle strategy, with the draft now on public display.
Council has this week run community consultation meetings in the three townships so residents can provide their feedback on the plan.
Last night a consultation was held at Narrabri, in Council’s chambers.
It follows a meeting at the Wee Waa Bowling Club on Monday night and Boggabri RSL on Tuesday night.
The plan, put together by Jerryn Zwart of Zwart Transport Planning, identified a number of potential footpaths, cycling lanes, recreational walking trails and road crossings.
In Narrabri, the draft plan proposes a raft of ideas, including a bike path on the roadway along various streets, including a portion of Maitland Street, Tibbereena Street, Dangar Street and Cooma Road.
It also proposes a shared bike and footpath along several areas, including Collins Park.
Narrabri West is also included in the draft plan, with several proposals, including on-road bicycle lanes along Cooma Road, Mooloobar Street and Ugoa Street and a shared bicycle and walking path around the lake.
In Wee Waa, it includes an on-road bicycle lane along Mitchell Street and Boolcarrol Road.
Footpaths and shared paths are proposed, connecting all Wee Waa streets with the CBD.
In Boggabri, several pathways are proposed, including a shared bicycle and walking path along Caxton and Merton streets.
In all three townships, bicycle parking is also proposed in various areas so bicycles can be secured.
The plan also recommends shaded areas along a number of the proposed paths.
The development of the plan enables Council to apply for funding to contribute toward the plan’s implementation.
Council hopes the walk and cycle lanes will enable more Shire residents to engage in physical exercise.
According to figures from 2011, contained in the draft plan, in the Hunter New England health district (of which the Narrabri Shire Council area forms part) 57.7 per cent of people are overweight or obese, compared to an average of 52.6 per cent across the state.
In NSW only 53.9 per cent of the adult population get enough physical activity, and in our health district this percentage drops to 49.5 per cent.
Once feedback is obtained on the draft plan, it will be finalised and costs estimated so that Council can work towards implementation.