Ballarat continues to develop its active transport network with the new shared path around Morshead Park in Redan due to open soon.
With 1.2km of concrete shared path along Rubicon Street and Pleasant Street, there is now a full loop around Morshead Park.
The $691,000 project completes a loop linking key sporting and community facilities in the city's west.
Final finishing works are still to be completed, including access points to Morshead Park, signage, line marking, tree planting and seating, which will all take place in the coming weeks.
The final segment of the Trails and Connections Project will link the Sutton Street/Rubicon Street roundabout with Doug Dean Reserve, near Lumen Christi Primary School and Delacombe Community Kindergarten, via a new 800-metre shared path along the Whitelaw Avenue open space reserve.
A tender to construct the Whitelaw Avenue shared path is expected to be issued in the coming weeks, with the project due for completion in early 2027.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves, said the project would promote a healthy, active community while reducing pressure on the road network for generations to come.
"As Ballarat continues to grow and roads become busier, projects like this give people safer, easier ways to move around their neighbourhoods," she said.
"We have already seen strong uptake of the Sutton Street shared path, and this next section extends that connection around one of Ballarat's busiest sporting precincts.
"With extraordinary growth in Delacombe, Winter Valley and Bonshaw, these shared paths will become an increasingly important part of how people get to schools, parks, sport and community facilities."
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Delacombe, along with Winter Valley and Bonshaw, is home to over 14,000 residents – more than double its population in 2017.
A further 13,000 residents are estimated to live in Sebastopol/Redan, highlighting the need for increased active transport options.
"Once the final section is complete, people will be able to travel from Victoria Park, around Morshead Park and through to key destinations in Delacombe without needing to use busy roads," Cr Hargreaves said.
"Each new section brings Ballarat's communities closer together and makes active travel safer, easier and more convenient."
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