Development and construction of the Murray Coorong Trail is the largest of Coorong District Council‘s long term walking initiatives. Coorong District Council is one of three regional Councils involved in developing the 450km walking/cycling trail – and at the end of 2016-17 (when stage one construction is complete) will have invested approximately $200,000 of cash and resources into it. Planning for the project began in 2012 after the Coorong Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) Manager raised the idea with a network of Murraylands health/recreation professionals. Since then, momentum has been building, and the project has attracted more than $300,000 in funding from the State Government.
Council, in partnership with its OPAL team, has developed the River Rail Road Trail, a 2.5km walking trail which loops the main street and iconic locations in and around its largest township Tailem Bend. This has been a partnership project, led by Council with support from the Tailem Bend Community Centre and Communities for Children, to upgrade an existing walking trail, and focus on engaging families and children in increasing the amount of unstructured recreation they participate in.
One of the most unique walking programs in the State, the Mayor’s Pedometer Challenge continues to build its profile and popularity in its third year with the Council.
The program aims to increase not only the number of people who are regularly walking, but to increase the amount of ‘steps’ people do each day, in order to build lifelong behavioral change.
