Adelaide Hills Council has confirmed the $5.7 million Stage 4 of the Amy Gillett memorial bikeway will proceed as planned.
The Council had secured $2.6 million from the previous Federal Government in 2020 for Stage 4 of the Amy Gillett Bikeway, which will stretch from Mount Torrens to Birdwood, with the South Australian Government subsequently matching the Commonwealth commitment.
Council has committed an additional $500,000 to cover the shortfall in Federal and State Government funding and will also undertake ongoing maintenance of the new stage, it said in a statement.
“This funding commitment ends years of uncertainty about the completion of the Bikeway,
which is planned to have 5 stages concluding in Mount Pleasant,” said Acting Mayor,
Nathan Daniell.
“I’m delighted to see Stage Four finally progressing and we acknowledge the importance of
Ms Sharkie’s advocacy in helping obtain Federal funding and her continuing collaboration
with Council for the benefit of our residents.
“This is an incredibly important and much-loved asset for our community with the added
strategic outcome of attracting tourism and providing economic benefit to townships along
the way.
“The extension of the Amy Gillett bikeway will also ensure more young children are provided with a safe place to learn to ride without the safety concerns of riding on Adelaide Hills roads.”
The project has endured several changes in Government at a State and Federal level. Cr Daniell said he was relieved that works were back on track.
“I look forward to traveling the Mount Torrens to Birdwood leg of the Bikeway once completed,” he said.
Amy Gillett, 29, was an Australian track cyclist and rower who represented Australia in both sports. She was tragically killed when a driver crashed into the Australian squad of cyclists on a training ride in Germany in 2005.