Glen Eira Council votes to push ahead with Inkerman Rd safe cycling route
The decision to create a safe cycling corridor in Caulfield North will see parking axed along one side of busy Inkerman Rd but one councillor has angered residents, telling them to “park on your own property”.
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Furious Caulfield North residents set to be stripped of parking to make way for a bike path outside their homes have been told to keep their cars “on your property”.
And ratepayers across Glen Eira could be stung with a multimillion-dollar bill if the Inkerman Rd safe cycling corridor is built.
At a fiery meeting last night, councillors voted to push ahead with detailed designs for the controversial route, which will see street parking axed and a mega bike highway created.
Construction will not move forward without further approval from councillors.
More than 150 people packed into the council chamber to hear the debate on the hot-button issue, which has stretched on since September last year.
During an emotional plea to councillors to reject the proposal to use Inkerman St, Mayor Margaret Esakoff said the project had received the “largest push back from the community” she had seen in 17 years as a councillor.
“The impacts on our residents are immeasurable and will no doubt change the fabric of our community,” she said.
“There’s not a person living on Inkerman, off Inkerman or anywhere near Inkerman … or any of the 10 businesses (nearby) whose amenity won’t be detrimentally impacted, quite possibly to the point of being unsustainable.
“While I wholeheartedly agree there is a need to do what we can to keep all road users safe, it should not be done as a trade-off for the safety of one group to the detriment of another group.”
Cr Esakoff said the pilot project costs could run into the millions, with ratepayers left to foot the bill.
She said Dandenong Rd was “the only option” for the route.
“It may not be the most feasible but it is the best route and it is possible,” she said.
“If St Kilda Rd, with all its hurdles, can be achieved, so can Dandenong Rd.”
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But Cr Mary Delahunty said Dandenong Rd was “a fanciful idea”.
“By saying yes to Dandenong Rd, you’re actually saying no to cycling,” she said.
“And those in other levels of government who suggest it are speaking nonsense and causing mischief.”
Cr Delahunty said the safe cycling corridor needed to be built for “the greater good” of the community, including ratepayers, residents and visitors to Glen Eira.
Cr Clare Davey also threw her support behind the Inkerman Rd option saying it was an opportunity to get more cars off the congested road network.
“We do need to do everything we possibly can to reduce congestion on our roads, improve safety and respond as best we can … to climate change,” she said.
“And in response to questions coming through about ‘where will I park?’, I will dare suggest to you, ‘on your property’.”
Crs Davey, Delahunty, Jamie Hyams and Jim Magee voted in favour of the Inkerman Rd route, with Crs Cade, Esakoff and Silver against.