Mayor of Dubbo Mathew Dickerson has unveiled the name of a new bridge along an extension of the Tracker Riley Cycleway at an official opening today.
Entitled The Shibble Bridge, the new river crossing was named after the family who are long-time landholders of the adjoining property near the new section of Tracker Riley Cycleway.
The Tracker Riley Cycleway extension was a $2.088 million project, funded by three levels of Government, which was undertaken in two stages and resulted in the addition of 3.32km of cylceway and the construction of a new river crossing.
Council secured a total of $793,000 funding through the Australian Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, and $392,000 through the NSW Roads and Maritime Services, for the project which began in 2009/10.
Cr Dickerson at Dundullimal Homestead today was joined by Dubbo MP Troy Grant, Roads and Maritime Service representatives, members of the Dubbo Bicycle Users Group (BUGS) and the Shibble family for the official opening.
"The extension of the Tracker Riley Cycleway has connected the City's central business district with Dubbo's two premier tourist attractions - Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Dundullimal Homestead," Cr Mathews said.
"It's estimated about 100,000 people per year will use this facility, which serves not only to increase the length and variety of safe, off-road terrain for pedestrians and cyclists, but also to increase the marketability of Dubbo's growing reputation as a desirable regional cycling destination by improving access to its tourism precinct."
Cr Dickerson thanked the Australian Government and Roads and Maritime Service for their contribution to the project, and the Dubbo Bicycle User Group for its participation in the development of the Tracker Riley Cycleway project.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mayor of Dubbo, Councillor Mathew Dickerson, phone 0418 639 053.
