Elaine Tennis Club

New footpath

ON THE WAY: Ryan, 8, Dylan, 12, and Jackson Lyons, 8, with Shane Dunne are keen to get a footpath on the Midland Highway. Picture: Luka Kauzlaric

ELAINE’s young aspiring cricketers will have a safe footpath to walk to sport practice, local leaders have confirmed.

Shane Dunne has led a community push to build a footpath along the Midland Highway so that children who catch the school bus can safely walk the 800 metres from the bus stop to the Recreation Reserve.

In March Mr Dunne appealed to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard, VicRoads and Moorabool Shire Council to build a pedestrian footpath along this busy stretch of road.

Moorabool Shire Councillor Tom Sullivan said council and Vic Roads assessments had determined property fence lines had been extended onto crown land.

Residents were currently being notified and VicRoads was expected to soon begin the process of moving back fence lines to ensure there was enough room to construct a footpath.

He said Moorabool Shire Council would fund the footpath, which would most like be a stone based path, and had applied for VicRoads funding for a crossing.

He said building a crossing was essential, because the bus stop was on the opposite side of the road to the footpath.

“I understand it can be frustrating for residents … but if we are going to build a footpath we need to ensure it can be accessed safely,” Cr Sullivan said.

Mr Dunne had hoped the path would be opened and constructed by the start of the cricket season. Training begun this week.

“The importance (of building the crossing) has been highlighted by the fact that the recreational reserve is 700-800 metres south of the townships. It is important we do provide safe outcomes for the children (who play sport there),” Cr Sullivan said.

In a statement VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said the construction of a footpath in this area was the responsibility of council.

“To help facilitate this, VicRoads has negotiated with landowners to realign their property fencing along the correct boundary by October.”

Mr Dunne said the cricket club had had a lot of success and “all that good work would be completely be undone if someone got hit.”

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/4138069/elaine-to-get-footpath/