Community members in Ballarat South will this Saturday begin a neighbourhood mapping project designed to encourage more people to walk and cycle to nearby destinations.
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The ‘Mapping Your Neighbourhood’ community event will be held at 10am on March 5, commencing from the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre Sebastopol’s Tuppen Drive behind Phoenix P-12 Community College.
The activity will test walking and cycling pathways around the area to create a display to highlight how far people can walk or ride within 10 or 20 minutes.
“The aim of the event is to encourage people to come along and assist in testing pathways around the Ballarat South, Sebastopol, Redan and Delacombe areas,” Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre’s Kate Owen said.
““It’s with the idea that we will then make up a map of points of interest and how it would take to to walk and cycle there.
“That map will be distributed to the community. People could find that if they walked 10 to 20 minutes they could be down along the Yarrowee Trail.”
The initiative is run by the City of Ballarat, Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre, Ballarat Community Health and Ballarat YMCA.
Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre executive manager Michelle Whyte said the initiative could have several benefits.
“As well as being a healthier, greener alternative to driving, walking or riding saves people money, gives them a chance to get to know their neighbours, encourages local shopping and helps make streets safer,” she said.
Morning tea, face-painting for the children and the ‘smoothie’ bike will be available for people to enjoy when returning from testing the pathways.
Local residents are encouraged to take part, with further information and registrations can be made through the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre on 5329 3273.
