The Bay Trail from Seaford to Port Phillip still unfinished, with 3km gap along Kingston foreshore
TAKE OUR POLL: A popular beachside path between Port Melbourne and Seaford is threatening to divide a community, as anger grows over plans to narrow busy Beach Rd to upgrade the trail.
South East
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- Plans for final stretch of Bay Trail up for discussion again
- Council told to seek support for bay trail plan
- Council urged to increase consultation on Beach Rd narrowing
- Stoush over bay trail continues
AN UNFINISHED 3.2km path along Melbourne’s foreshore is ripping its local community apart.
How and where to build the final section of the Bay Trail, a shared walking/cycling path from Port Melbourne to Seaford, continues to be at the centre of bitter debate.
Kingston Council and the Do Not Narrow Beach Road lobby group are at a stalemate over the section, which would finally link Port Melbourne and Seaford.
Robyn Nolan, spokeswoman from the Do Not Narrow Beach Road lobby group, said they firmly opposed the council’s proposal for the path because it would cut into a vital arterial, impact community safety and reduce parking.
“As well as narrowing Beach Rd, council’s proposal will steal the verge to site the Bay Trail shared path, parking will be pushed out onto the foreshore lane — approximately 130 car spaces will also be lost,” Ms Nolan said.
“The councillors’ reasoning for narrowing Beach Rd is to lessen the amount of vegetation to be removed for the construction of the Bay Trail. But council’s own ecologist has confirmed the vegetation is not significant,” Ms Nolan said.
She said 93 per cent of the community has voted against the path proposal.
“It poses safety concerns and impacts the amenity of Beach Rd clubs and schools, residents, motorists, cyclists and beach users,” she said.
“Amy Gillett Foundation, Triathlon Victoria and Bayside Triathlon have all indicated they don’t support the council’s proposed treatment of Beach Rd that includes narrowing.”
“The community want the Bay Trail — but they want the design they voted for — no road narrowing and safe indented parking — the design which was successfully completed near Mentone Life Saving Club.”
“There is no justification for narrowing Beach Road — vegetation should never be put before human lives — this is why there is palpable anger in the community.”
However Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said the council’s solution was best.
“Council is keen to finally build the path to give young and inexperienced cyclists an alternative to riding along busy Beach Rd,” Cr Staikos said.
“Everyone wants the Bay Trail completed, however there are differing views about how this should happen: environmentalists want less foreshore vegetation removed while some would prefer that not even a centimetre of the roadway be used,” he said.
“Council has found a practical compromise that strikes a balance between motorists, road cyclists, path users and the environment.”
He said Beach Rd would remain four lanes at a similar width to what already exists in neighbouring Bayside.
“We’ll be removing around 8270sq m of foreshore vegetation and using small parts of some sections of the road (an average of 30cm) to fit in the path,” he said.
Following consultation, council made changes including increasing vegetation removal to limit the number of car parks reduced and still provide around 900 car parking spaces.
“Our plan to finally build the Bay Trail meets all VicRoads and Australian safety standards, is supported by Bicycle Network Victoria as safe for cyclists, provides plenty of parking and protects the most environmentally significant areas of vegetation.”
“It’s just a shame that politics seems to have gotten in the way of this vital community project.”