A bike riding and walking trail linking three picturesque villages on the northern New South Wales coast has been fully funded and will be completed next year.
Linking Evans Head to Woodburn and Broadwater, the trail will be a boon to tourists who find themselves struggling to get about on busy roads.
Evans Head is on the Evans River, while the other villages are on the Richmond River.
The project has secured $5.4 million from the Australian Government’s Road Safety Program and the NSW government has contributed to the $20 million cost of the project, which will be delivered by Richmond Valley Council.
The project comprises a 2.5-metre-wide shared-user path and includes pedestrian refuges, kerb, gutters and ramps, property access reconstruction, drainage, culverts, new bridge treatments, safety barriers and landscaping.
Some sections have been constructed and designs for the remainder are being finalised.
Richmond Valley Council’s general manager, Vaughan Macdonald, says the funding will go towards construction of 5.8km of shared pathway.
“This investment is vital for enhancing community connectivity, encouraging active lifestyles, and is crucial in fostering closer ties between neighbouring communities.
“By linking our villages with shared pathways, we are creating stronger connections – not just physically, but socially and environmentally,” Macdonald says.
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, said the project was "part of our collective commitment to significantly reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and I thank the NSW Government for their collaboration on this.
“It’s critical that we continue to support safety projects in regional and metropolitan areas across the country as Australia’s road toll is far too high.”
New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said: “I’m thrilled to see the Three Villages Cycleway moving forward – this is a fantastic project that will connect communities, enhance safety, and promote healthier, more active lifestyles.”
Bicycle Network has long argued for more car-free travel options for coastal towns and holiday destinations.
These places attract people because of their relaxed atmosphere and opportunities for rest and recreation.
Too often they become choked with motor traffic, and walkers and bike riders are placed at risk, ruining the original rationale of the visit.
If decent active transport options are provided more people will come and enjoy their stay, boosting the local economy.
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