New cycle path completes ‘missing link’ in Goondiwindi town cycle route

A new cycle path in Goondiwindi will complete the town’s final ‘missing link’ and connect existing cycleways at the Old Cunningham Highway and Johnston Road.

Goondiwindi Regional Council has secured $175,000 from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program Grant towards the project.

The project is scheduled to begin in November and will take about a month to complete.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the region’s network of walkways and cycle paths was an important part of Council’s commitment to sport and recreation in the Goondiwindi region.

“Since 2017, Council has constructed nearly three kilometres of cycleways at a cost of more than $1 million,” Cr Springborg said.

The new path will join the existing route at the Old Cunningham Highway and run 600 metres down Lamberth Road to connect to the cycleway at Johnston Road. It will be wide enough for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Council’s Sport and Recreation Statement proposes that projects are prioritised if they will provide either economic or social benefits, or improvements to community mental or physical health.

“Providing safe public infrastructure and facilities is a priority for this Council, and we are especially keen to invest in spaces that invite an active, healthy lifestyle,” Cr Springborg said.

“By completing this missing piece of the puzzle, residents and visitors will be able to safely travel by bicycle across much of the town and access many of its key places and facilities.”

Once completed, the Lamberth Road cycleway will allow residents and visitors to cycle from Johnston Road across to Frideswide Street, down to the riverfront and the Goondiwindi CBD, along to Riddles Oval and across to the State High School before looping back onto Sandhurst Street and the Old Cunningham Highway back to their starting point.

Cr Springborg said Council's success in securing external funding would mean there was greater scope to dedicate its Budget to additional projects across the region.

"By successfully funding these essential infrastructure projects externally, we can maximise the ratepayer dollar for other projects while keeping costs minimal," he said.

The cycleway will complement two new footpath projects that Council recently announced for Texas and Yelarbon. The footpaths will connect the Texas CBD to the Dumaresq River rest area and the Yelarbon lagoon to the State School, respectively.

Council will engage a local concrete supplier for the works and it is expected that Lamberth Road will remain open during the construction.