Disability advocates, elderly residents and foreshore walkers all requested wider, safer, footpaths during the Noosaville Foreshore Master Planning process.
As part of the response, this 2.8metre wide path in front of the Noosaville boat ramp is proposed to be widened by 70cm to 3.5metres to more safely fit everyone, including e-bike riders, dog walkers and people in mobility scooters.
It’s at the pinch point on the Noosaville foreshore where two paths narrow into one. It’s squeezed between the boat ramp on one side and road on the other, with little room to manoeuvre.
To fit this wider path, 10 adjacent car spaces of the total 404 carparks in the area are proposed to be narrowed into 18 motorcycle parks.
The voices of disability advocates and elderly residents requesting this area be made more accessible and safer needed to be heard.
The 3.5m width also meets minimum Ausroads Standards for shared pathways in high-use recreational areas.
The first version of the master plan aimed to provide two separate paths for e-bikes and pedestrians for greater safety along the length of the river foreshore as requested by the public, but it would have involved the loss of 100 plus on-road car parks.
The latest version seeks to safely cater for everyone with minimal loss of car spaces.
I know this proposal has caused upset and anger for those who use the spaces for boat trailer and other parking.
If there’s a way to keep this wider shared path without losing carparks, I’m open to finding it.
