The distribution and quality of bicycle trails in Melbourne is variable, but Gardiners Creek Trail is definitely one of the good ones. It follows the Gardiners Creek (duh!) from where it merges with the Yarra River, through Malvern, Burwood, Box Hill, and finishes in Blackburn. It's a great route for both recreational and commuting riders.
However there's an ongoing bug: the gap between Warrigal Rd and the Solway St footbridge. To make the connection currently, cyclists and pedestrians alike tend to go cross-country following a maintenance trail through the Malvern Valley Golf Course, despite a sign that prohibits this.
Plans
The City of Stonnington recently approved a masterplan for closing the gap, but Bicycle Victoria is not best pleased about it: the plan wants to put the connection on the northern bank of the creek whereas BV favours a route along the southern bank. I haven't yet been able to lay my hands on the actual masterplan, but the relevant section in the notice paper of the City of Stonnington council meeting of 5 June is pretty illuminating:
The proposed master plan locates the trail on the Boorondara [sic] side of the creek and construction of the trail will closely match the existing site levels and grade.
Oh, by the way the "existing site levels and grade" on the northern bank are higher and hillier than the southern bank.
The trail also includes a short section of on street trail and links with the Anniversary trail at Ashburton Grove.
As opposed to a route on the southern bank that wouldn't have any on-road sections.
The initial concept had considered a section of trail on the Malvern Valley Golf Course, however due to risk and flooding constraints this option was not pursued.
Risk and flooding, eh? I presume they mean the risk associated with having walkers and cyclists in close proximity to the golf course fairways – despite the fact that this is well managed on the section of trail west of the Solway St bridge.
As for flooding, there are plenty of sections of this trail that are subject to inundation (the Glenferrie Rd and Toork Rd underpasses spring to mind) so I don't think that is an insurmountable problem.
It looks to me as if the Stonnington Council never intended it to follow the most direct route along the south bank adjacent to the golf course, and they seems quite happy to pass the project off to Boroondara.
BV is right this will "provide an indirect (and somewhat frustrating link) for recreational riders" – and I think commuters will just continue to cut through the golf course.
Consultation
A consultative process is supposed to be in progress and to be concluded by the end of this month but I'm damned if I can find out much about it. Clearly BV is staying on top of it and local cyclist Colin Lightbody has also put up his hand to keep a track of what's going on (he can be contacted at colinlightbody@optusnet.com).
I heard nothing about those information nights either, which is not altogether astonishing—there was supposed to be public consultation at this time last year and I couldn't track it down either. Perhaps the Stonnington Council thinks that mumbling something in the street outside the Town Hall counts as informing the public?
Boroondara's attitude toward (and real work on) the Gardiners Creek Trail stands in stark contrast to Stonnington's complete disregard.
I am a local Ashburton resident and use the Markham reserve off-leash park to walk my dogs twice a day. 'Some' local residents got a letter in the post and an invite to the sessions. The whole process seems greatly flawed indeed. You can leave comments with the architect dnunan@hansen-online.com.au but that in itself seems odd. You could also contact the local member mary.halikiasbyrnes@boroondara.vic.gov.au who is oddly silent on the matter.
I can confirm the gradients are steep and there are plans for severe switchbacks onto the Anniversary Trail. The reserve also an off-leash dog walking park and busy soccer/cricket field (4 year olds) on weekends. Also, a new (expensive) bridge will be needed (and we have yet to complete Solway bridge due to lack of funds).
It seems there is little to support the pan other than a) the money being available, b) the required off street nature (otherwise no money) and c) outside flood zone (otherwise no money). The rout fails to address 'need'
I think marco is dead right: no real need is being addressed by this rather shoddy "plan".
If he's right and the trail does need to be "off street" in order to qualify for funding, I think it's a bit cynical to run it along the nature strip in Markham Avenue. That's barely off the street, isn't it?
From the proposal (see page 59 for the financial side) you can see the total cost of the project is about million to be done in 3 stages over 3-4 years. Stage 1 (year 1) is the Markham reserve part and is funded. Stage 2 (year 2) is the Warrigal Rd bridge which is not funded yet so might not even happen given the experience with the Solway bridge. And so Stage 3 (year 3) is the Solway bridge upgrade and you guessed it - not funded yet.... sounds like a mess to me.
Boroondara BUG have been working with Boroondara Council for the best possible outcome for this gap. Stonnington BUG unfortunately seems to be defunct.
The underpass under Warrigal Rd will be a real improvement, however a route that follows the creek more closely is highly desirable. If the current plan proceeds Solway Bridge will be quite inadequate for the amount of traffic it will attract and will need to be moved, preferably upstream, or at the very least upgraded.
Those of you who feel strongly about this should be lobbying Stonnington Council and if you live in or ride through Stonnington getting a BUG set up to do this more effectively.
oh see agenda and possibly notes here
There will be another meeting in December where council will vote... or defer again or something...
Correct - barely off street indeed and the poor Turners who live in one of the 2 houses on the corner will fairly much have the thing on their doorstep/driveway. Council just deferred the decision last night anyway as it came to light there are many other plans for Markham not shown on the 'master' plan (soccer grounds, skate parks, community gardens, ...). I still don't get why it can't go along the golf course either nth side or south side which is flatter and more direct other than the fact Stonnington are being obstructive. Indeed 1st class fences could be put in with the money they saved on the very expensive bridges the Markham plan requires.
Focus your energies on Stonnington CC. Have a good look at:
This brand new sign is designed to be placed at the south side of the Solway Bridge. It would be orientated in an east west direction. The first plank indicates that the Anniversary Trail is northwards, across the Solway bridge. Now note with interest the very bottom plank: It says "To Glen Waverly [sic], Blackburn Road Via Anniversary Trail and Markham Ave.".
This sign has been laying in wait ready for the closing of the gap in Gardiners Creek Trail, utilising the Markham Ave route. The sign is located in a Stonnington CC facility and has been there since at least Jan 2008 ie nearly a year. Clearly Stonnington CC has presupposed the plan for Markham Reserve will go ahead.
In the interim it appears a path could be put in, to the south of the golf course by the freeway:
Stonnington CC refuses to instigate this path. The two issues on which they rejected a path on the golf course: "safety and flood levels" are both invalid for this path. It's on high ground and some of the fences required to stop golf balls landing on the freeway are already up.
Comments
Well - have to say I'm not happy. I pay rates in Boroondara and Stonnington and I found out to-day that Stonnington council held two information nights just recently, the last I think was on the 29th of May. How am I meant to know this? Sidetracking - Boroondara council is developing is its bike strategy - time to stick your nose in on that one. Back to the gap. The new path is a detour, not a straight route. The Solway brige is going to be replaced - put the thing where it will solve everbody's problems. Move the bridge upstream a bit. And if I hear any more stories about getting hit in the head by golf balls - bollocks. A new bridge and path by a golf courses have just been completed on the Plenty river trail. May be the consulants should have a chat to a council that has actually done something. A search on the wikipedia and the Gardiners Creek trail provide more background.