Early last year Stonnington Council approved the Gardiners Creek Master Plan. Despite that I was told earlier this year either that "there is no Gardiners Creek Master Plan in existence" or that "you will need to contact Melbourne Water".
I have since discovered (more or less by accident) that the Draft Gardiners Creek Trail Gap Masterplan has been online since May at both Stonnington and Boroondara:
The Draft Masterplan aims to provide a framework for connecting the gap in the existing Gardinerís Creek Trail (shared path), between Warrigal Road in Ashwood and the Solway Street Bridge in Ashburton.
The connection will utilise a section of the Anniversary Trail and the existing Solway Street Bridge. It will provide facilities for cyclists and pedestrians while also creating access to parks, other bike trails, Alamein and Malvern East Train Stations and access for bike commuters to the city and north along Anniversary Trail (shared path).
And if, like me, you have a little trouble picturing how this route could possibly include part of the Anniversary Trail, you will need to download the "Master Plan", such as it is (although it is neither masterful nor what I would consider a plan).
But no bike commuter in their right mind would follow this route.
The Draft Masterplan is available here. It comprises two A3 leaflets indicating the proposed shared path alignment.
Key features include:
New 3m wide asphalt shared path designed to current safety standards, with associated linemarking and signage.
A short section of shared path along the southern naturestrip of Markham Avenue including associated street tree planting. This section of shared path may need to be designed at 2.5m width, due to space constraints.
Elevated access along the top of the embankment in Markham Reserve from which to enjoy the local views.
Two connections across Markham Reserve to the surrounding streets.
Additional seating and rest point locations in Markham Reserve.
Shared path connection under the Warrigal Road Bridge on the north side of Gardinerís Creek.
That link will be very useful but don't go holding your breath--it may be handled as well as the Solway Street Bridge.
Pedestrian links to the Warrigal Road footpaths from the shared path under the Warrigal Road Bridge.
A bridge link across Gardinerís Creek to join up with the existing Gardinerís Creek Trail that heads to Box Hill South.
The Cities of Boroondara, Stonnington & Monash will be conducting two information sessions for interested members of the public on the Draft Gardinerís Creek Trail Gap Masterplan.
The first information session will be held on Saturday 26 May at 12.00 noon and the second information session on Tuesday 29 May at 7.00pm. There is no need to RSVP. Both meetings will be held at the:
Malvern Town Hall - Upstairs Room
cnr Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern
(Melways Ref 45 C8)
That would be those public information sessions that I didn't hear about. Oh well.
If you would like to provide feedback on the Draft Masterplan please send written comments to Daniel Nunan, Hansen Partnership, Level 8, 136 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, fax to 9654 8088 or email to dnunan@hansen-online.com.au by Tuesday 12 June 2007.
Personally, I don't think it's too late to send our pal Daniel an email, do you?
That is such a brilliant idea—at least cyclists would know how to layout a decent bike lane (not some of the door-zone deathtraps that I can think of).
Its not quite as retarded as it might seem. The only part that makes me go "what??" is the idea that people will ride up to the Anniversary train on top of a huge train embankment rather than just riding along the roads parallel on the east side.
Ideally, I'd probably suggest running a path along the south side of the golf course (from the exising path that crosses the freeway and rail at East Malvern) and out via the clubhouse rather than going up into suburbs on the other side. Away from the creek is not a bad idea, and I'm not too sure that the golf course is using the space up against the fences along the freeway. It would mean safety fences, but its going to cost money regardless.
I'm not sure what the master plan as it stands expects to gain compared to crossing the pedestrian bridge and riding along the south side of the railway anyway.... (other than no blind corners)
The ideal and most obvious route isn't going to happen and I reckon it was never on the table. The arguments raised against a route going through the golf course are lame and implausible. Apparently the area is flood prone—but practically the whole damn trail downstream of Warrigal Rd is subject to inundation. It just doesn't ring true to me and never has.
Y eah, the flood argument is a bit strange - given that the whole path runs along creeks, its a bit bogus. My concern with alongside the creek is more about the fact that they will almost certainly use sodding ashphalt, and in two or three years, it'll sag and bend, making it as bad as the path further along Scotchman's creek.
Well the plans have completely disappeared off both council's sites. If you have a copy please let me know. Currently Boroondara council is being pressured by the local dog walkers to align the path parallel to the road starting near the intersection of Victory Blvd and Sunderland Rd. I think this is an off leash area, so I can see their concerns.
Looks like that neither the dog walkers or the cyclists want the path as suggested. Everybody would prefer it to be somewhere on the south side of the creek. As the Boroondara Draft Bicycle Strategy is open to public comment at the moment, might be worthwhile letting them know.
Also suggest Boroondara CC forward on all comments re the gap, on to Stonington CC, as they are the ones that need to be doing something.
Meanwhile Stonington CC recommend Stonington residents dump their garbage in Boroondara. I'm sure Boroondara residents are happy to help out. However, it would be also nice if Stonington council helped Boroondara, by being neighbourly and taking note of what Boroondara residents are saying: Build the path on the south side of the creek.
I would also like to know where the golf course at Gardiners Creek gets its water - pumped out of the creek? Because there is at least one in Boroondara that used to (permit lapsed in abt. year 2000) and maybe still does; given 600,000 is allocated in this fin. years budget for a new pump. If any golf courses still pumps from our streams and rivers, I sure hope they have platypus filters on the intakes, especially re some of the spurious comments made in the local press re: the Darebin Creek / Main Yarra Trail bridge development and platypuses. By the way it is probable (not proven), that the Manuela Cifra referred to, works for the Herald Sun.
Comments
hello there,
i thought you would appreciate this article:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/226454
about bike activists who paint their own bike paths..
i'm not giving you any idea's....or am i ?
;)