Evaluation

 

The Green Corridor enables and encourages active living by providing an opportunity for walking and cycling between the two towns, as well as by linking the towns to a number of parks and other facilities for physical activity. The addition of a fitness trail has expanded the opportunities for physical activity along the Corridor.

The Green Corridor is a good example of a project that fulfils the PCAL design objective for walking and cycling routes namely providing an accessible and integrated network of walking and cycling routes for safe and convenient travel to local destinations and between key land uses within urban places. The Corridor demonstrates the application of a number of the design considerations set out in the Walking and cycling routes section of Designing Places for Active Living. These include:

• Plan and construct connected walking and cycling routes leading to local destinations and focal points such as shops, schools, parks and public transport stops.

The Green Corridor provides a means of practical and convenient travel between the towns of West Wyalong and Wyalong. It is a legible and direct path providing access to local destinations and focal points. For Wyalong residents in particular, the track provides a pleasant route by which to access the services and facilities in larger West Wyalong.

The track passes five parkland and bushland reserve areas, with facilities including barbecues, childrens play equipment, and a swimming pool. This allows people to use the path to access these parkland areas for a variety of active and passive recreational activities.

• Create safe places for people to walk and cycle, which are overlooked by buildings and have clear sightlines.

Prior to its construction the only link between the towns was a busy highway. In contrast, the Green Corridor is a safe walking and cycling route for local residents. The path has clear sightlines, and is overlooked by houses and other buildings at various points.

• Provide and maintain footpaths on all streets.

The corridor is not a conventional footpath, but a separated path. For most of its length it follows the route of the towns main stormwater drain, although it includes some dedicated footpath areas.

• Create stimulating and attractive routes to encourage repeated use with careful consideration of details such directness, lighting, shade, landscaping with appropriate species choice, pavement and edge treatments.

The Green Corridor demonstrates innovative use of existing infrastructure, by using the route of the stormwater drain, and augmenting this to provide a legible walking and cycling route. There are many shade trees along the route, and Council has an ongoing tree-planting program in place.

The inclusion of interesting community-created public art not only helps make the Green Corridor a stimulating and attractive route, but also encourages a sense of ownership by the community. Situated along the route are junk art sculptures, and timber poles that were painted by local school children, occupants of the Waratah Retirement Village and members of the local Aboriginal community. On the final stage of the track is Remembrance Avenue, where trees and plaques pay tribute to local people who served Australia in times of conflict.

The careful design of the Green Corridor, and the attention that has been paid to creating an attractive and stimulating route have contributed to its success, with the track having become a very well used local facility. Provision of seating, as well as picnic and barbecue areas along the route and at each end of the corridor further encourage its use by visitors and the local community.

• Ensure that shared paths are carefully designed with sufficient width, gentle gradients and turns and marked centrelines.

The path is wide and follows gentle gradients. It does not have marked centrelines, however signage designates shared use.