Shire of Carnarvon votes to cancel Department of Transport shared bike path construction following hefty costs

The Shire of Carnarvon has voted to pull out of constructing a shared path in Coral Bay until further funding is available after the cost of the works exceeded $700,000. On Wednesday, April 26 the council voted not to progress with the Department of Transport WA Bicycle Network program after the design portion was completed in October last year. The shared path on Monck Head Drive and Banksia Drive was aimed to provide safer accessibility from town to the Coral Bay boat ramp. The construction portion of the Coral Bay Shared Path project will not be considered until additional grant or other funding is able to be sourced. The council reported a department representative said the department was “not supportive of partial completion of the path” as it wouldn’t improve connections and weren’t open to alternatives including changing material or shortening lengths or widths in April. Funds amounting to $26,520 will be refunded to the Department of Transport under the WA Bicycle Network funding program. The motion not to go ahead with construction was carried 8-0.