Cycleway, Aboriginal artwork

in riverside parkland scheme

PICNIC areas, a cycleway, a pedestrian boardwalk (pictured right) across the river and public artwork incorporating Aboriginal river stories are some of the improvements possible under the Lachlan River Precinct Master Plan adopted by Cowra Shire Council at its meeting this week.

A boardwalk, 1.9m wide, is planned to abut the downstream side of the low-level traffic bridge.

Council voted unanimously to adopt the Master Plan as the basis for long-term improvement to the area, providing a framework to guide the development of the area over the next 10 years in stages as funding allows.

Chairman of the Cowra Lachlan River Precinct Working Party, Councillor Ray Walsh, spoke of the overwhelming acceptance of the Master Plan during the public exhibition process and how the plan will make Cowra an even more attractive place for its residents, tourists and future residents.

Key opportunities identified in the Master Plan include: Improving river health through removal of weeds and introduced plant species and the planting of indigenous species; repair of gully erosion and managing the quality of stormwater entering the river; improved access for a wider range of users including pedestrians and cyclists; and improving seating and picnicking facilities.

Artwork recognising and telling the stories of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the Lachlan River and its surrounding lands before European settlement, and provision of new and improved recreational facilities through this interpretation, are identified as significant components of the plan.