City of Mitcham

2016 Award Winner
Award Category: Local Government Award - Organisation

The City of Mitcham is setting a South Australian benchmark for purpose built, sustainable trail development in local government reserves. Open Space within metropolitan areas is limited and reserves on the perimeter of urban areas are often used for informal sporting pursuits. The growing community trend towards unstructured recreation has influenced the development of Council’s Shared Use Trail Network.

In the mid-2000s Council endorsed a trails strategy to implement and manage a Shared Use Trail Network. Council manages 600 hectares of open space including 280 hectares of bushland reserves. Within the bushland reserves there are approximately 30 kilometres of natural trails and Council is now completing a further 10 kilometres in Randell Park reserve. City of Mitcham has a dedicated Trails Officer to manage the trails, work closely with the horticultural team, sport and recreation officer and youth officer to support and encourage active living.

You can view some of the trails in our Find a Place to Walk directory:

About the Walking Awards

Walking SA has initiated annual awards to recognise sustained and outstanding contribution to walking at all levels throughout South Australia.

Many volunteers and others have contributed to South Australia’s great walking trails, waling clubs, and walking promotion and opportunities for health, wellbeing, recreation and tourism.

If you know of someone who should be considered for an award please do consider nominating them, nominations are taken throughout the year.