The path is part of a wider Cycling Connections project to improve access to cycling across 12kms of routes around Ballarat.

The proposals, which have been discussed for years, will return to the council chamber next week.

An officer report contained in the meeting agenda recommends councillors support the Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) designs for the project. This will be put to councillors for approval.

The latest plans, which were released to the public last month, show a path on the south side of Sturt Street, which would be resurfaced to give cyclists a smoother surface to use.

The path would be shared with pedestrians, allowing cyclists to "ride a bike through the city in a slow speed environment", according to the report.

A grass safety buffer would be introduced between the path and road, with the traffic lanes reduced in width. The number of parking spaces would not change. Under the designs, no monuments, statues or trees would need to be removed.

Pedestrian crossings would also connect the new bike paths.

The council officer reports describes the designs as "respectful of both the heritage qualities of this precinct and also integrate with the landscape setting of this area".

It also described the RRV engagement process as having "a genuine methodology", having been completed over an extensive period of time.

Officers suggest the design and delivery of the path be done collaboratively between the City of Ballarat and RRV.

Council would follow the same principles for work on the Sturt Street section from Dawson Street to Grenville Street, which is under City of Ballarat control.

The latest concepts were released last month by Jaala Pulford, the state Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, who said the path would "make it so much easier for people with prams, people on foot and people on bikes to get around central Ballarat".

The designs were changed from previous versions which showed the path going straight up the centre of the gardens - a proposal described as "an act of vandalism" by Cr Mark Harris.

The subject of a Sturt Street bike path has rarely escaped without extensive and sometimes heated commentary.

When the Ballarat Cycling Connections project was put to council in February 2018, current mayor Cr Ben Taylor backed a motion from Cr Amy Johnson, which included a description of VicRoads's consultation as "wholly inadequate". That motion was defeated.

City of Ballarat developed a cycling action plan in 2017, which cited a safe, separate connection along the Sturt Street as a priority.

The proposed Sturt Street bike path is one strand of a project along the city's main boulevard which includes modifying intersections, installing new traffic lights and widening kerbs to increase safety for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Much of the work for this is already underway.

The latest recommendation will be discussed at the council meeting at town hall on Wednesday March 11.

Access the full council agenda for that meeting here.

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