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Grants to crank up local bike facilities

A $6 million State Government investment will help create more than 37 kilometres of new cycling path across Western Australia to improve the connection of local communities.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has allocated the grants, which will go to 34 local governments over the next two years to further expand metropolitan and regional cycling infrastructure.

The funding is provided through the Perth Bicycle Network and Regional Bicycle Network grants programs, which assist local government authorities to plan, design and build important cycling facilities for their respective communities.

The programs help ensure infrastructure is continuous across local government boundaries and integrate with the Western Australian Bicycle Network Plan.

In the last State Budget, $129 million was allocated over four years towards improving WA cycling infrastructure, which will allow at least 95km of new cycling path to be built.

These latest allocations to local governments will go towards the construction of about 10km of new path in the metropolitan area and almost 27km of new path in regional communities.

Significant projects in this round of funding include:

  • A 1.5 kilometre shared path along Railway Avenue in the City of Armadale;
  • A 1.9 kilometre shared path linking Harvey town centre to recreational facilities at Harvey Dam;
  • A 550 metre upgrade to the Estuary Drive Shared Path between Bunbury and Australind;
  • A 660 metre extension of existing path along Goodwood Parade to connect the Graham Farmer Freeway principal shared path and Great Eastern Highway; and
  • Loftus Street shared paths, connecting bike boulevards with the freeway cycling network.

The full list of funded projects is available at http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/wabn_grants