Country Pathways the ticket to ride in South Hedland

18/1/05
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has urged the Town of Port Hedland to apply for a State Government funding grant after receiving a petition for a bike path in South Hedland.

Visiting Port Hedland today, the Minister was presented with a petition calling for the construction of a bike path along Kennedy Street by local Labor candidate Tom Stephens.
Ms MacTiernan said $750,000 was available to regional local government authorities this year through the State Government's Country Pathways Program.
"This fund has been developed to extend the current network of shared-use pathways in regional Western Australia," she said.
"Funding is allocated to local authorities on a dollar-for-dollar basis but in the case of Port Hedland, matching funds could be sought from the Pilbara Fund or from local industry.
"The provision of pathways in South Hedland was identified at the recent Port Hedland Enquiry by Design process - further reinforcing local support for this type of infrastructure."

The Minister said the Town of Port Hedland had received a total of $155,000 from the program over the past four years but had not applied for funding in the last round.
Mr Stephens said he had spoken to many South Hedland residents about the need for a cycle path on Kennedy Street.
"When I heard the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure was coming to Port Hedland, I took the opportunity to personally hand deliver the petition," Mr Stephens said.
"I strongly encourage the local authority to acknowledge the community support for this proposal and submit a funding application to the department."
Ms MacTiernan said the program had provided more than $8.8million for the construction of hundreds of kilometres of pathway throughout the State since its inception 10 years ago.
"The program has not only been responsible for significantly increasing the number of pathways in regional WA, in many country centres it has provided an alternative transport link and given pedestrians safer access to key community facilities such as schools and shopping areas," the Minister said.
"More recently, the program has also funded projects to highlight the health and environmental benefits of using shared-use pathways as an alternative transport form or for recreation."
Last year, as part of the program the Government contributed $780,000 in funding to 34 projects throughout the State.
Local authorities wanting more information about the program or the submission process can contact Jennifer Kahl at the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on (08) 9216 8540 or visit the department's website at http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling
Submissions close on March 14.
Minister's office: 9213 6400