The Encounter Bikeway will be a beneficiary of the state government’s new State Bicycle Fund.

Alexandrina Council will receive a $35,000 grant to design and install new wayfinding signage for the shared cycle and walking path that links Victor Harbor and Goolwa.

With an emphasis on providing better cycling infrastructure and encouraging more active lifestyles, the State Bicycle Fund will invest $2 million to enable local councils to create new bike paths and improve existing ones.

Funding is being put towards projects that will install new shared-use paths, safer road crossings, wayfinding signage, and other road safety improvements.

A total of 27 projects across 20 councils will receive funding, including nine regional councils – with 38 per cent of the total fund going to projects in regional areas.

About 10 per cent of the funding has been allocated to design-only projects to enable councils to develop projects to get them ‘shovel-ready’ and eligible for future rounds of funding.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis says the State Bicycle Fund will see significant improvements to bike paths across the state. 

“The State Bicycle Fund is all about supporting local councils to develop and build safter and better bike paths and crossings. 

“Cycling and active travel provide so many benefits for individuals and communities, and these projects will help encourage people out from behind the wheel and onto their bikes.”