Bridge over troubled waters: 10-year campaign to build overpass on Merri Creek approved

A BRIDGE connecting Brunswick to Northcote over Merri Creek will finally be built after a decade of campaigning by nearby residents.

Campaigners celebrate at the site of a future bridge over Merri Creek. Picture: Mark Dadswell

A DECADE-LONG grassroots campaign has finally convinced two councils to build a $2.9 million pedestrian bridge over Merri Creek.

Representatives of the Merri Creek Bridge Group first approached Darebin Council 10 years ago for a bridge between Northcote and Brunswick East near CERES, only to be turned down due to cost issues.

Helen McDonald and Juliet Hall rebooted the campaign and, thanks to a 2015 petition that drew more than 1400 signatures, Darebin and Moreland councils have agreed to split the costs, with Darebin to oversee its construction.

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Ms McDonald said the approval was a “credit to all local campaigners on both sides of the Merri Creek”.

“It’s been a long campaign because bridges are expensive and we needed approval from two councils, which takes time,” she said.

“This bridge will connect the communities of Northcote and Brunswick like never before.”

CERES chief executive Cinnamon Evans said she was looking forward to “welcoming our friends from Northcote” over the bridge.

Moreland Council approved plans and its half of the cost at its June meeting, with construction expected to begin in January and to be completed by June of next year.