Community members rallying support to stop shared bike path going ahead in Rushall Reserve

OBJECTORS say a proposed shared pathway through Rushall Reserve would destroy the open space that is used as a community meeting area.

Clinton Kitt with Charlie, 4, and Angus, 8 are active cyclists but opposed to the shared path project going ahead at Rushall Reserve. Picture: David Smith

A PROPOSED shared pathway through Rushall Reserve would destroy the open space that is used as a community meeting area say objectors.

Fitzroy North residents who live near the reserve have stepped up their campaign to overturn Yarra Council’s $600,000 proposal, which was carried forward to the 2015/16 draft budget.

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The pedestrian and bike path would be built through the park, which is used by families and for dogs to exercise off-leash, to link the existing path at the end of Holden St to Rushall Railway station.

View the council’s plans here.

However, residents have called on council to retain the park as open space, fearing the path would create a dangerous mix of fast-moving cyclists, children and dogs.

A petition circulated in the neighbourhood near Rushall Reserve collected more than 300 signatures.

About 66 per cent of the signatories opposing the path identified themselves as a cyclist.

Active bike rider Clinton Kitt, who uses the park daily with his young family, said the neighbourhood would lose a “community meeting area” if a path was built through the park.

“We have been to the park when there are 20 dogs at one end of the park and kids playing footy, kicking a soccer ball, at the other end of the park,” Mr Kitt said.

“If you have a bike path going through there, that is not going to happen.”

Currently, cyclists travelling to the north can dismount at the Rushall station and walk through an underpass before getting back on the Merri Creek Trail via the Koonda Lat Bridge.

Chris Star, a co-ordinator of the Yarra Bike Users Group (BUG), said the path would eliminate the need for cyclists to share the underpass with pedestrians.

However, she conceded many cyclists did not dismount at the station and the underpass created congestion for cyclists and pedestrians.

“Quite a few bicycle user groups have wanted it fixed for over 20 years,” Ms Star said.

Yarra Council acting director city development, Jane Waldock, said council was considering feedback on the issue and potential benefits and impacts for park users.

Council is expected to make a determination on the proposal at a council meeting next month.