Cooroora Connect April 2021
An Initiative of Pomona & District Community House
Bike path call gets louder Hinterland locals are getting together to encourage Noosa Council to prioritise construction of a bicycle path between Cooran and Pomona.
The Australian and Queensland governments have begun the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to immunise the population against the virus and to check its spread.
This is despite the fact that the council confirmed as recently as last month that it does not support a Noosa Trails Masterplan recommendation that a bike path be built to follow the North Coast Railway Line between both towns.
The vaccines will be made available in phases, depending on the age, medical condition and health history of individuals.
Grant funding is available for an upgrade of Trail 5 following a scenic forestry route, but money has yet to be found for a complementary ‘rail trail’ following the railway, as shown in the Queensland Principal Bicycle Network map. Helping lead the stepped-up call for the twin towns bicycle connection is John Burrows, who said that safe and sustainable transport for locals should take precedence over trails aimed at recreational users.
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Inter-town bicycle paths are common elsewhere in Queensland, this one between Wamuran and Caboolture.
signed by more than 800 residents in 2019, concerned that there was no safe bicycle route for schoolchildren to “Noosa Council has released its Draft access the high school campus at Cycling and Walking Strategy for public Pomona. comment, and residents are encouraged Mr Burrows continued: “Recreational to examine the document and speak users may actually prefer the Cooran– out loudly,” he said. Pomona bike path because it would be The strategy says: “Trail infrastructure flat and comfortable. The Noosa Trail projects such as a Cooran to Pomona Network was designed primarily for connection scored low but will be horse-riders. It’s great for walkers, but investigated as part of the trail network not at all suitable for the casual cyclist. in the coming years.” (This is believed “It follows roads that can be dusty and to be not before 2031.) sometimes busy with motor traffic. OffMr Burrows said evidence of strong road, the tracks can be slippery and community support for the more direct often too rough to negotiate with an ‘commuter path’ included a petition ordinary bicycle.” Continued page 2
Priority is being given to the aged and those in ‘front-line’ services, such as those managing quarantine quarters, hospital workers, police and security personnel at borders and airports. For others, the Australian Government aims to have all vaccinated by the end of October 2021. People can check their eligibility and likely timeline for receiving the vaccine on-line: https://covidvaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/ eligibility All those aged over 70 are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Health authorities have warned against scammers requesting a fee from those wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It is free.
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