By Victoria Stone-meadows
MOUNT Evelyn is more connected than ever thanks to the completion of a new footpath connecting Evelyn Ridge to the main town.
Billanook Ward councillor Maria McCarthy and residents from the Evelyn Ridge Retirement Village officially opened the footpath on Friday 12 August.
The new path stretches the length of Clegg Road, starting at Evelyn Ridge, and meets existing footpaths along Monbulk Road.
At a cost of $200,000, the footpath is considered priceless by the residents of Evelyn Ridge and others who live along Clegg Road.
Gerald Overton is a resident at Evelyn Ridge and says the footpath has made a big difference in how residents interact with the wider community.
“Resident can now be a real part of the Mount Evelyn community,” he said.
“The footpath makes for much easier access to the township and there is no more having to cross the dangerous Clegg Road.”
Cr McCarthy said the new footpath made accessibility and livability along Clegg Road safer for everyone.
“This footpath a step in the right direction in keeping our residents safe,” she said.
“Previously, prams, wheelchairs and pedestrians wanting to travel along Clegg Road had difficulty due to the lack of footpath.
“This new path improves the entire area’s walkability, which is a wonderful asset for our community”.
The footpath was the result of lobbying from the residents of Evelyn Ridge who feel they were disconnected and isolated from the rest of the town.
“This project is a great example of the community working together with Yarra Ranges Council to deliver results that benefit the entire region,” Cr McCarthy said.
This new footpath in Mount Evelyn is just one of the many to be built, repaired or improved out of the $3.2 million allocated for footpaths and cycle ways in the 2016/17 council budget.
