The environment along the Moonee Ponds Creek trail could be developed into a first class linear park, according to an investigation of the Creek's middle catchment.
The 14km stretch from Flemington to Jacana is currently in a degraded and disconnected condition, and is poorly managed with no overall management plan.
But a new report from Melbourne Water and the cities of Moonee Valley and Moreland could change all that.
It envisages a return to the “Chain of Ponds” environment that once characterised the Creek, and wants a reconfiguring of the concrete channeling that has disfigured sections of the Creek’s course.
It calls for the reconstruction of the entire shared path to a new and higher standard, rather than continually fixing the patchwork of existing issues.
Existing gaps gaps within the shared user path should be resolved, including at Vanberg Road, Essendon and alternate routes on the City of Moreland side of the creek should be investigated, the report’s executive summary says.
The proposals will be welcomed by riders who have always seen the potential for a creek that has been too often compromised by freeways and other industrial purposes.
Thoughtless development over the years has resulted in major flooding risks and the prospect of serious economic impacts.
Other goals of the vision include:
- Providing a wider range of activities and experiences along the full length of the creek that encourage greater usage from people of all ages and interests
- Ensuring gender equity in the provision of activities along the creek like providing more opportunities for female sport participation
- Recognising the value of the existing concrete channel as a suitable surface for different activities, including cycling
- Undertaking more detailed and regular pedestrian and cycle counts at key locations along the shared user path
- Implementing an education strategy on considerate path and open space use to help resolve conflicts between different users
Feedback from the community on the plan is now being sought.
Make sure you have your say on you reaction to the linear park “Chain of Ponds” concept, and the plan for rebuilding the shared path along the creek.
Feedback is open until 14 August 2018.
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