Eagle Bay path push

Cyclists want to see the region’s overarching cycling infrastructure strategy expanded to incorporate a coastal pathway from Dunsborough to Eagle Bay, better connecting the towns and improving environmental and tourism outcomes.

Eagle Bay resident and avid cyclist Chris Heyring told the Times it was a stunning stretch of coastline with untapped potential, but connectivity was fragmented.

A road runs along the coast from Eagle Bay to Meelup but pulls away, also making for a steep incline from Meelup to Old Dunsborough.

“There’s no way to legally cycle ... all the way to Dunsborough along the coast,” Mr Heyring said.

Vasse MLA and shadow tourism minister Libby Mettam said constructing a path would capitalise on the views from a tourism perspective while improving environmental outcomes by stopping people from forging their own illegal trails through the bushland.

Cape Mountain Bikers also support an Eagle Bay to Dunsborough dual-use pathway.

“We’re mountain bikers and a lot are road cyclists too,” president Andrew Spencer Wright said.

“We just want to be able to get out there and ride.”

The Leeuwin-Naturaliste 2050 Cycling Strategy was unveiled late last month and was bolstered by $20,000 in funding for the Wadandi Track underpass at Carters Road.

It is a blueprint guiding cycling infrastructure in the region into the future and outlines a range of key priorities, including connecting Dunsborough to Cape Naturaliste and Yallingup.

While the document notes demand for a coastal trail from Eagle Bay to Dunsborough, it is not formally supported because of conflicts with the City of Busselton’s Meelup Regional Park Management Plan.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said it was “all investigations” at this stage and no decisions had yet been made about an alignment.

Ms Mettam said it was great to see the cycling plan for the continuation of paths and trails which highlighted strong support for the continuation of the Geographe Bay shared-use path from Dunsborough to Yallingup, as well as the Eagle Bay to Dunsborough route.