What more pleasant way of spending an hour or two, than by stretching ones legs on a walking/bike path.
Well Benalla has one along the Midland Highway, that was put down after a lot of work that was done by a private citizen, it is used now on a regular basis by quiet a few people.
A few communities in the Benalla District also see this as an alternative way to keep fit by regular and safe exercise, walking is an ideal form of fitness for all ages.
I recently heard of one such path in a community to the north of Benalla, that has been built and maintained by local people, this one is also being used on a regular basis.
There is a 5km plus one on the south side that is constantly being upgraded and extended, with more and more people taking advantage of this most pleasant, quiet and safe walking (even running) path. It is very nice to walk along this path and see all the wonderful wildlife, especially the pair of local eagles who use an open are to train there youngster. During the evening hours the path is constantly used by nocturnal animals, some a little more destructive than others.
Another path that has been put forward in quite some detail for another small community has met with a bit of animosity by a small, yet vocal, minority who I believe can not see 'past their noses', and who, are disputing this wonderful local amenity that would add charm and an easily accessible, safe place in the township to exercise. Maybe these objectors do not want to get fit and wish just to remain couch potatoes instead.
Whilst there is not always an appropriate section of local community area to construct and maintain a walking path, every endeavor to have one in each community should be looked at by those people. The health benefits, physical and mental, for this type of gentle exercise is well know and not only is it a of great benefit to the exerciser but also to the health system in reducing medical attention.
Bike paths.
Now the question: Does the Benalla Rural City actively support and encourage the building of bike paths for locals and tourists in their city?
The answer: A simple NO!
Why? because they don't/can't see/understand what is in it for them. There are none so blind as those who wont see!
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Travelers towing caravans around Australia should think twice about going to Benalla with their caravan. For more than ten years my partner and I fought to have the town allocate caravan parking areas for tourists, in the end there were two such spaces allotted, 'in a busy car-park'. It was pointed out to the relevant authorities that the spots are to small and to hard to park all but the smallest caravans. The caravan spots are some 300 plus meters from the present 'tourist information' building, never ideal for the elderly or in-firmed.
Another major problem facing caravaners is the fact that the council does not police the two caravan spots, but allows 'all and sundry' to park in these two spaces. It would appear that touists are not encouraged, in fact I have heard 'from the horses mouth' that the council didn't deem Benalla to be a tourist destination, and so didn't need to put in place any tourist infrastructure.
We have also tried for many years to have a tourist bike path put into place to join up those already in place,and being built, in other areas of the North East of Victoria. And the answer has consistently been 'we are not a tourist destination' or we haven't got the money. The Victorian Government has, over the past years, poured millions of dollars into other areas of the state for the very same type of bike paths as we have been wanting for Benalla.
So whilst there is a wonderful man-made lake in Benalla and other splendid tourist destinations in the area, think twice if you have a caravan or wish to cycle around the area.
Caravaners are generally a very astute group of people, and if the are not made welcome they 'go somewhere else' to spend their money. Benalla is missing out on an enormous amount of tourist dollars, and rightly so. So as I said, think twice before making Benalla a stop over.