Geelong bike lanes: Council votes on $2.7m contract
A council refusal to make a decision on awarding a $2.7m contract to build a controversial bike lanes project has prompted mixed reactions.
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A council refusal to make a decision on awarding a $2.7m contract to build a controversial bike lanes project has prompted mixed reactions from the public, including warnings the lanes would turn Geelong into a “massive mess”.
Geelong Advertiser readers this week voiced both their opposition and support for the council move to defer making a decision on awarding the contract to build bike lanes form the Barwon River to Waurn Ponds, including protected lanes along the High St Belmont.
“Will most likely turn Geelong into the ‘Massive Mess’ Melbourne has become,” reader Phil Jones commented.
“Let’s hope common sense prevails and there’s no bike lanes in Belmont,” David Hayley said.
Some commenters argued already completed sections of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded $6.3m Building Better Bike Connections – constructing paths connecting the CBD to Waurn Ponds, and to Herne Hill via Geelong West – were barely being used by cyclists.
“I work at the bay end of Gheringhap St and drive the entire length of this road twice a day, Mon-Fri,” Janine Nene Slater commented. “Barely see a cyclist … maybe one a day, if that. This morning I saw none. Is it a case of ‘build it and they will come’? …’cause they ain’t coming.”
While the majority of online comments were in opposition to the bike paths, some supporters still ensured they voiced their backing of the project.
“How many deferred design projects and talk of council spending state government-allocated funding to rip up award-winning transport infrastructure before UNESCO reconsiders Geelong as a City of Design?” Adds reader Gene wrote.
“We have a city outpacing growth above a global average – we need a multimodal system of travel around Geelong. Imagine a city where if we did the very minimum to improve liveability, we wouldn’t be hostage to our cars.”
Reader Ronald also spoke out against encouraging more cars on the roads, “after all, they are expensive, require huge amounts of infrastructure, polluting, and cause health issues”.
The TAC has committed $2.3m to the construction of stage two of the Southern Link of the project, leaving the city to fund an expected $769,000.
But, city documents show the expected tender winner Enoch Civil had signalled it would only hold its price until July 28, meaning the city will now face potential price increases as a result of the councils refusal to make a decision.
Under the Belmont plans, one-way separated bike paths would be built on each side of High St, with about 30 parking spaces removed from the existing 83.
While the loss of parking spaces has been criticised by some objectors, the city has noted there are about 1100 carparks in the immediate vicinity of High St.
A city report into the project revealed “mixed” feedback from more than 260 people who took part in community engagement on the project in May.
Analysis of all feedback provided on the designs for Stage 2 of the Southern Link by sentiment found 55.5 per cent were negative, while just 24.4 per cent were positive.
Verdict: City’s potentially costly bike lane decision
Geelong council has refused to make a decision on awarding a $2.7m contract to build the final stage of a controversial bike lanes project, giving no reason for the move which may risk cost blowouts.
A majority of councillors on Tuesday night voted to defer making a decision on awarding the contract to build bike lanes form the Barwon River to Waurn Ponds, including protected lanes along the High St, Belmont.
The move to defer the agenda item, moved by Cr Ron Nelson, split the council group, with councillors Bruce Harwood, Sarah Mansfield and Belinda Moloney unsuccessfully opposing the deferral.
“Under the circumstances, Mr Mayor, we probably owe the community an explanation, as to why we’re considering that,” Cr Harwood said, but no response was given.
After the decision Mayor Peter Murrihy said there were “matters that need to be discussed by the council group in relation to this, and I can’t say much more than that” and apologised to members of the public who sat through the meeting waiting for a decision.
The bike lanes were set to be the final stage of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded $6.3m Building Better Bike Connections project for paths connecting the CBD to Waurn Ponds, and to Herne Hill via Geelong West.
The TAC has committed $2.3m to the construction of stage two of the Southern Link, leaving the city to fund an expected $769,000.
But, city documents show the expected tender winner Enoch Civil had signalled it would only hold its price until July 28, meaning the city will now face potential price increases as a result of the councils refusal to make a decision.
Under the Belmont plans, one-way separated bike paths would be built on each side of High St, with about 30 parking spaces removed from the existing 83.
While the loss of parking spaces has been criticised by some objectors, the city has noted there are about 1100 carparks in the immediate vicinity of High St.
A city report into the project revealed “mixed” feedback from more than 260 people who took part in community engagement on the project in May.
Analysis of all feedback provided on the designs for Stage 2 of the Southern Link by sentiment found 55.5 per cent were negative, while just 24.4 per cent were positive.
The city’s bike lanes project has proven controversial in recent years, including three councillors opposing putting this final stage to tender in March.
Cr Eddy Kontelj suggested the city “take a pause” on the project or use the TAC funding to instead “solve” or “remove” completed Stage One works.
“Personally, I believe we made an error with stage one in approving it,” Cr Kontelj warned at the time. “The routes we chose are wrong, they’re in the wrong place.”
Councillors Ron Nelson and Anthony Aitken also warned businesses on High St in Belmont would “go bust” as a result of the bike lane construction.
Cr Eddy Kontelj’s comments struck a nerve with the State Government, and were referenced as a “disturbing example” in a scathing letter sent by five local state Labor MPs in June voicing a “growing concern and lack of confidence” in the city’s ability to deliver key state-funded projects.
The Government in 2020 seized control of a CBD street from the city, in a move to stop the council from spending $2m to rip up part of the award-winning joint council-government funded $8m Green Spine bike lane project.
Geelong council’s bike lane deferral could be costly
Geelong council is set to vote on a $2.7m contract to build the final stage of a controversial bike lanes project, despite “disturbing” suggestions it instead use government funding to rip up completed sections of the project.
Councillors on Tuesday are expected to vote on a recommendation to award a multimillion-dollar contract to Enoch Civil to build bike lanes form the Barwon River to Waurn Ponds, including protected lanes along the popular High St, Belmont shopping strip.
The contractor has also signalled it will hold its price until July 28, meaning the city may face extra costs if it doesn’t vote to award the contract.
The works are the final stage of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded $6.3m Building Better Bike Connections project for paths connecting the CBD to Waurn Ponds, and to Herne Hill via Geelong West.
Under the Belmont plans, one-way separated bike paths would be built on each side of High St, with about 30 parking spaces removed from the existing 83.
While the loss of parking spaces has been criticised by some objectors, the city has noted there are about 1100 carparks in the immediate vicinity of High St.
A city report into the project revealed “mixed” feedback from more than 260 people who took part in community engagement on the project in May.
Analysis of all feedback provided on the designs for Stage 2 of the Southern Link by sentiment found 55.5 per cent were negative, while just 24.4 per cent were positive.
The city’s bike lanes project has proven controversial in recent years, including three councillors opposing putting this final stage to tender in March.
Cr Eddy Kontelj suggested the city “take a pause” on the project or use the TAC funding to instead “solve” or “remove” completed Stage One works.
“Personally, I believe we made an error with stage one in approving it,” Cr Kontelj warned at the time. “The routes we chose are wrong, they’re in the wrong place.”
Councillors Ron Nelson and Anthony Aitken also warned businesses on High St in Belmont would “go bust” as a result of the bike lane construction.
Cr Eddy Kontelj’s comments struck a nerve with the State Government, and were referenced as a “disturbing example” in a scathing letter sent by five local state Labor MPs in June voicing a “growing concern and lack of confidence” in the city’s ability to deliver key state-funded projects.
The Government in 2020 seized control of a CBD street from the city, in a move to stop the council from spending $2m to rip up part of the award-winning joint council-government funded $8m Green Spine bike lane project.
The TAC has committed $2.3m to the construction of stage two of the Southern Link, leaving the city to fund an expected $769,000.
Originally published as Geelong bike lanes: Council votes on $2.7m contract
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