Council builds new footpath in response to community budget suggestion
Explore Councils by state
The Borough of Queenscliffe is making residents’ ideas a reality by already building a footpath suggested in last month’s budget consultation.
More than 300 residents took part in the budget consultation in November, including 4 respondents who suggested Council build a new footpath on Nelson Road. Council engineers found an opportunity to use existing funding to get this project under way immediately, with the project opened for use just one month later in a lightning-fast turnaround.
“Residents told us this footpath should be a priority for Council, and we’ve responded by getting straight to work,” Cr Ebbels said. “I’d like to thank John, David, Noelene and Felicity for suggesting this fantastic idea.”
Two of the residents who suggested the improvement, John Hocking and David Jarman, were on hand to help Cr Ebbels open the footpath. “I was excited to see Council act on my idea so quickly,” said Mr Hocking. “This new footpath will make Nelson Road safer for everyone, and shows that Council is really listening to the ideas we put forward.”
Cr Ebbels said that Council’s quick action implementing the feedback from residents showed the Borough was taking community consultation seriously. “This new footpath is the first of many improvements we’ll be making in response to resident input,” said Cr Ebbels. “We’re looking forward to turning more of these ideas into real projects as Council puts together its budget next year.”
The new footpath will make it safer for residents to access the Point Lonsdale Medical Centre, and includes bollards to separate pedestrians and traffic. The area will also feature new native plants when the cooler planting season begins next year. The project’s delivery also comes just two weeks after Council opened another resident-suggested project – a drinking tap at Narrows Beach.
More information about Council’s budget consultation, including the range of ideas suggested by local residents, is available at queenscliffe.vic.gov.au/budget.