Loddon Tracks and Trails Strategy - Loddon Shire Council

6.3 Current Trail Usage and Needs
Surveys were available throughout the community in February and March 2009 to
determine current usage patterns and potential developments and upgrades to the trail
network. Only 24 surveys were completed. This number is too small to make any
meaningful assessments; however, the results are recorded for information purposes.
The majority of survey respondents live in Boort (30.4%), followed by Wedderburn
(17.4%) and Bridgewater and Inglewood (each 13.0%) and were aged between 30-39
years and 40-49 years (28.6% each). Genders were equally represented (50% each).
Of those people who completed a survey:
Issue Identified Needs
Type of usage • The majority of people currently walk (65.2%) or don’t use
trails (26.1%). Cycling (21.7%) was the next most popular
activity on trails, followed by canoeing (13.0%) and horse
riding (8.7%).
Length of time
on trail
Frequency of
use
Maximum
distances
Preferred
surface
Best things
about Loddon
tracks and trails
Worst things
about Loddon
tracks and trails
• There is an equal number of people who spend less than one
hour on a trail (38.1%) and one to three hours on a trail.
• The majority of people use trails on a weekly basis (33.3%)
or not at all (22.2%). An equal number of people state that
they use trails daily or several times per week (16.7% each).
• The maximum average distance people are willing to travel
per day along tracks is:
o Walking – 7km
o Cycling – 20km
o Horse riding – 20km
o Canoeing / kayaking – 4km
• The preferred type of surface for a cycling / walking trail is
either a sealed track (e.g. asphalt or concrete) or a crushed,
compacted gravel track (23.8% each)
• The best things about tracks and trails in Loddon are the
natural features, water views, wildlife, birds, peacefulness,
tranquility and lack of traffic.
• The worst things about tracks and trails in Loddon are lack of
tracks, lack of signage, lack of maps, lack of directional
signage on tracks, lack of interpretive information, lack of
supporting infrastructure such as accommodation options,
poor surface and lack of connectivity.
Marketing • The preferred source of marketing is signage at entry points
of trails (30.0%), followed by internet with downloadable
maps (25.0%) and maps or brochures from visitor
information centres / accommodation venues (20%)
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