Ballan residents fear that the elderly and people in wheelchairs could be involved in serious falls, with the condition of local footpaths flagged as a big concern in the town’s structure plan.
The revised plan will be presented to Moorabool councillors on February 5.
Last year’s draft plan received 43 individual submissions between May and October, with residents wanting land south of the railway confirmed as a “preferred growth corridor”.
They also urged the council to preserve the rural feel of the town and improve footpaths and railway crossings.
John Kowarsky, who has lived in Ballan for four years, said footpaths on Roach Court and the Spencer Street bridge were among the worst in town.
“The roads are so bad, for one vision- impaired woman they’ve had to paint the rocks yellow,” he said. “And there’s still been issues because the path just ends abruptly.”
Mr Kowarsky said many elderly people lived in the area near Roach Court, where there are no footpaths.
“It’s within 500 metres of the post office, but it’s not connected by a footpath,’’ he said.
‘‘Anyone on a walker or just not steady on their feet has got to navigate some pretty rough road edges, or the road itself.”
Resident Merilyn Meadows said she’d witnessed, and heard about, several falls due to poorly surfaced paths.
“They’re uneven and there’s not a lot of them,” she said.
“It’s even worse for people on the other side of town because they barely have them at all.”
Ms Meadows wants more footpaths in Ballan’s north and more pedestrian crossings on Main Street.
Cr John Spain said Ballan’s footpaths were a health and safety issue.
“They should immediately be on a hotlist so council can inspect them as soon as possible,” he said.
In the report to councillors, officers said the plan identified opportunities for improved paths and proposed a program of path connections throughout the municipality.
Cr Pat Toohey said the state of Ballan’s footpaths had been raised as an issue almost a decade ago. “Work in the area is ongoing,” he said.
PRISCILLA MOCA
