The Lockdown has allowed us all to imagine a better world – a world we want to live in. The Lockdown has forced the community to exercise locally despite there being no where safe to do this. We the undersigned, declare that we are NOT less deserving of the good health outcomes than our friends by the coast or in cities, who have safe places locally to conduct meaningful exercise.

What is the Hinterland Loop? The Hinterland Loop is a proposed 15km family- and mobility- friendly exercise and recreation track that loops around the spectacular roads of macadamia country in Clunes, Corndale and Rosebank – all within the Lismore LGA. The Loop is a community-led initiative that uses 4 tertiary roads for safe exercise and recreation purposes. The Hinterland Loop will take the route of James Gibson Rd, right onto Corndale Rd, which feeds into Rosebank Rd, and right into Mackie Rd, which you follow up to the intersection with James Gibson Rd.

Why do we need this? Physical activity is fundamentally important for mental and physical health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current pandemic has demonstrated that the access for people and their families to safely walk, run and cycle in our community is inadequate. People have been using these roads to exercise long before this initiative, but since the ‘Stay Home’ laws came into effect, we have seen an increase in community members exercising on these roads. Consequently, we as a community, have come together to encourage motorists to reduce their speed and watch out for pedestrians, cyclists, children, pets and wildlife. But this is not enough.

The Primary Health Network North Coast identified that the Lismore LGA has the third highest rate of stroke in NSW, and significantly higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations compared to the rest of NSW. Over a third (34.2%) of interviewed participants in the Lismore LGA identified that mental health was the biggest health challenge they faced, followed by weight (27.6%) and ageing issues. It is clear that our region is falling behind the state and potentially the country in regards to health and wellbeing.

What we need council to action NOW. We are asking for the council to put in appropriate traffic calming interventions (e.g signs, road markings and designated cycle/walkways etc) in order for the community members that use the Loop to be protected from speeding motor vehicles. The preconception that roads belong exclusively to motorised vehicles is redundant and outdated. The roads belong to the community and the whole community should be able to use them safely.

We need the councils help to ensure community safety while they exercise locally. This aligns with Lismore City Council’s “Imagine Lismore - Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027” objective A1: to ensure our community is safe, happy and healthy.

Where else has this been done? We have seen numerous examples across the world of governments introducing reduced speed limits, widened footpaths, emergency cycle lanes and the closure of roads. Recently, Milan, Italy and Paris, France announced hundreds of kilometres of temporary cycle lanes to enable reopening the economy. New Zealand announced a fund to help councils create more people-friendly spaces in our towns and cities. Oakland, California has closed off 74 miles of its streets to passing cars, making it easier for residents to run, bike or play.

As yet, we have not seen a similar response in Australia, and we need to act now. More than 100 Australian health and transport experts have signed an open letter calling on governments to enact urgent measures to support safe walking and cycling and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe this is even more important in regional/rural Australia where access to health services and safe places to exercises have always been limited.

What are the benefits beyond COVID-19? There are six schools/preschools located on or close to the proposed Hinterland Loop. Having safe roads and potentially designated pathways for families and children to walk/cycle to school will increase the rates of incidental exercise and consequently improve the health outcomes of our youngest community members. We know from the previous Global Financial Crisis and other downturns, that individuals' pocketbooks will be hurting and many will be or are already struggling with debt. Not everyone is able to afford a gym membership, so the Loop will provide an inexpensive and accessible alternative for the community to exercise regularly. 

Beyond COVID-19, the Loop may also be an attractive destination for tourists, which will provide opportunities to boost our local economy. The Loop passes close to the proposed rail-trail and would offer rail-trail users a convenient off and on point from nearby villages, encouraging future exploration of the countryside by locals and tourists.

As we approach the era where electrical bicycles and scooters become more affordable, the Loop may also encourage more people in the region to commute using their own fitness and strength (rather than relying on cars and uncertain petrol prices), which would have untold benefits for both the environment and health of the local communities. 

We the undersigned, call on the council to roll out traffic calming interventions along the Hinterland Loop to ensure the safety of community members who use the track while complying with government edicts to exercise locally. The Loop will provide safe and secure roads, within a short drive to many Hinterland townships, allowing the broader region a meaningful place to exercise on quality roads. We would love for the council and wider community to support our needs for health and wellbeing, now and into the future.

Sincerely,

Members of the Hinterland Loop initiative