Harbour Bridge cycleway ramp angers Milsons Point residents
MILSONS Point residents packed a meeting on Monday night to vent their anger over plans to build a ramp for cyclists to access the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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MILSONS Point residents filled the North Sydney Council chambers on Monday night.
The crowd gathered to hear a debate on a planned ramp to improve cyclists’ access to the Harbour Bridge.
Milsons Point Community Group represents the residents of more than 20 apartment blocks in the area and convener Julia Connor addressed the meeting.
“We fail to understand why the perceived needs of a small group of transient cyclists should take priority over the 24/7 amenity of up to 4000 local residents,” Ms Connor said.
She said residents were “strenuously opposed” to the bike ramp for several reasons.
The proposal would effectively cut the northern part of Bradfield Park in half and result in the removal of mature trees.
Ms Connor said the ramp would also have a major visual impact on the Harbour Bridge approaches and described it as a “major eyesore”.
And she said the project was a waste of taxpayers’ money. The existing steps added about 35 seconds to cyclists’ travel time each way and that the estimated cost of the ramp was $10 million.
Cyclists had to dismount and push their bikes up 55 steps.
The council is opposed to the proposal for the ramps and after hearing Ms Connor voted to seek a meeting with Roads Minister Melinda Pavey.
Cr Ian Mutton said the proposal being put forward was simply not acceptable.
“There is a need for a solution but the solution isn’t a massive ramp,” he said.
“The solution isn’t taking a park away from the community.”
Roads and Maritime Services said it is progressing a proposal to provide step-free access by building an elevated ramp. Consultation started in 2015 and has continued throughout the design process.
“Around 2000 cyclist trips are taken across the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway on weekdays, making it the most heavily used cycleway in the Sydney metropolitan area,” he said.
“Feedback received is being reviewed and considered as the project moves to the concept design stage with all feedback to be summarised in a consultation report which will be published later this year.”
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