Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Council marooned

7 February 2013 With Whitehorse Council resolving to support and maintain the rail corridor path it would appear Maroondah Council may find it difficult to resist supporting both the rail corridor path into Ringwood and the O'Shannasey Trail.

Councils hold riders to ransom

29 November 2012. Two prominent Melbourne municipalities have sabotaged the building of long planned multi-million dollar bike trails in a doomed attempt to force the State Government to cough up for all future maintenance costs, a responsibility of local government, not the State.

Work on the Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail, and the O'Shannasey Viaduct Trail has yet to begin despite Whitehorse and Maroondah Councils being gifted 100 percent of the $10M funding for these projects.

These two projects were election commitments of the incoming Baillieu Government, and their funding is intact despite the devastating cuts to bike programs elsewhere in the budget.

Bicycle Network has learned that both councils have refused to permit the trails to be built unless their unprecedented demands are met.

Documents indicate that the councils have asked for special treatment and want the State to pay for ongoing maintenance of the paths, and to absolve them of any future legal liability.

The councils would be well aware that municipalities throughout Victoria typically pay these costs for community facilities that are paid for by the State. And they should be aware that no State Government is ever likely to vary this policy.

These councils are already responsible for upkeep and public liability on numerous other facilities, including bike trails within their areas.

Other Melbourne councils would jump at the opportunity of 100 per cent State Government funding for bike facilities.

And they may get the opportunity. It would be scandalous if the available funds had to be returned to Treasury unspent so it is likely that the resources will be made available to other areas of Victoria if the Whitehorse and Maroondah don't come to their senses soon.

There is a chance that following the recent council elections one or both of the Councils could decide to turn over a new leaf and commit to building the bike facilities currently being denied the community.

Promised trail languishes

21 August 2012. The State Government's election promise to build the Carrum to Warburton Trail appears to have been forgotten, with no sign of progress since the Baillieu team came to power. But don't worry, bike riders are about to jog the Premier's memory.

Blue Ribbons have been put out along the route by riders to announce yet another project which the Zero Bike Budget has put on hold.

And this one was an election commitment!

In 2010 the Baillieu Government proudly announced their  'The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan For Sport & Recreation' which included a commitment on page 11 to complete the 'Carrum to Warburton' Trail, more specifically the missing link of approximately 7.1 kilometres between Bayswater North and Mount Evelyn.

Despite State Government assurances given in a Budgets Estimates Hearing earlier this year that this project was underway, there has been no movement or interaction with stakeholders, including Local Government, for over a year. (Since the management of the Metropolitan Trail Network was taken from Parks Victoria.)

Furthermore if this trail is to achieve the State Government's target of avoiding shared trails that end abruptly forcing riders onto busy roads, the trail must be constructed to connect into the network and not end at Bayswater.

Luckily there is a relatively achievable link (refer pink line on map below) which would connect riders into the Ringwood Activity precinct. VicRoads did the planning and nominal alignment of this connection backn in 2010.

It would appear all this project needs is for the State Government to Bring the Bike Budget back!

You can ask Ted Baillieu to Bring the Bike Budget Back by writing to the Premier and local member here. Remember, constructive letters tend to generate better results.

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View O'Shannasy Viaduct Trail in a larger map

Election opportunity for candidates to show support

15 August 2012 Bicycle Network Victoria has identified this project as a local council priority for the 2012 Local Government election. Candidates should be ready to support the development and full or partial funding of this project in conjunction with State Government and can tell riders in their Council area their position by posting their candidates' statement at VoteBike.

The Baillieu Government committed $5 million toward this project in the election campaign. Council needs to show resolve and let the State Government meet its commitment.

Easement awaits link

June 2010 This project ticks all the boxes when it comes to transport routes. It will help to partially link the Ringwood to Box Hill CADs, go past many primary and secondary schools, go toward Monash University and many other trip generators along this corridor. The water easement does not present a challenge physically and is relatively flat.