Glen Eira Council abandon Inkerman Rd cycling project

A key part of major ‘bike highway’ linking Dandenong to the CBD in Glen Eira has been controversially cut because of skyrocketing costs.

Caulfield North residents have been fighting to get the Inkerman Rd cycling project quashed since 2019. Picture: Josie Hayden

A proposal to create part of a cycling ‘super highway’ linking Dandenong to the CBD in Glen Eira has been quashed after community backlash and the multimillion-dollar bill attached to the controversial project was revealed.

Glen Eira Council cancelled the $14 million section of Safe Cycling Corridor on Inkerman Rd in Caulfield North, with director of planning and place Ron Torres saying the decision followed “extensive technical assessments, community consultation and stakeholder feedback”.

There were two options the council’s was considering — the first had more parking on both sides, the second had less parking, but both had a central cycling lane.

“Each option was estimated to cost $14 million to deliver (including all further stages of detailed design and construction). The council considered both cost and community feedback in making its decision.”

Bicycle Network chief executive Alison McCormack said the council’s decision was a setback.

“We intend to continue working with the community and the various road authorities to see that vision accomplished,” she said.

“The council’s own reports tell us that Caulfield is growing rapidly in population, but the streets are nearing traffic saturation and there is no prospect of more road capacity for cars.

“The only option they will have to get people to work, school and the shops is to increase the use of public transport, bikes and walking.”

The Glen Eira City Council were considering two options. Option one and two are shown here. Picture: Glen Eira City Council.

The project’s detractors had banded together to form the Save Inkerman Road group which has petitioned for the project to be stopped.

The group, including Cr Simone Zmood, had previously voiced concerns about cyclist’s safety if the project went ahead but Cr David Zyngier labelled those resident’s concerns as “faux” in the council meeting.

The group had questioned if the project was worthwhile given only a small percentage of people were predicted to make the switch to riding bikes at the cost of small businesses losing on-street parking spaces.

It has been an emotive issue within the Caulfield North area with Cr Zmood revealing she had been the victim of the “harassment” and “bullying”.

Cr Zmood, who is an Inkerman Rd resident and was once part of the Save Inkerman Road group, refuted that she had a conflict of interest while voting on the project.

“I have never made a secret about where I lived on Inkerman Rd and everyone knew that when I was elected,” she said.

“The interest that I hold in this project, simply because of where I live, isn’t immaterial but it is no different from anyone who drives down Inkerman or accesses the cycling corridor either on or off Inkerman Rd once it is built.

“I appreciate that some people may disagree, what I have experienced from some people in the past week … has been beyond unacceptable and I am feeling very drained.”

The council has committed to pursuing more cyclist pathways as they target a reduction in cars on the road in their council area.

“While the Inkerman Rd project was not supported, Council remains committed to investigating opportunities to improve safety for cyclists,” Mr Torres said.

Save Inkerman Road group were contacted for comment.