The State Government is slapping a 3m-wide concrete bike path through the Mullum Mullum Valley, which it has spent millions protecting.

Hmm, I think “slapping” doesn’t really reflect the level of community engagement that’s clearly gone on here. To me it sounds like a fairly comprehensive consultation and review process was carried out. The Chairman of the Yarran Dheran Advisory Committee—while obviously opposed to it—is quoted in the article as saying that his organisation is generally positive about the plan.

And it should be pointed out that Bicycle Victoria considers this a reasonable compromise also:

The chosen alignment is not the most desirable one for bike riders as it does have some sections of up to 100 metres in length that are steep. It also has one short section that will narrow to 2.4 metres to avoid significant vegetation.

And I find myself in the rare position of agreeing with some SEITA propaganda, when it points out that

A formal pathway route will also discourage use of the many foot tracks which currently weave across the valley, impacting sensitive vegetation.

I’m also a bit surprised that more isn’t being made of how a 3m wide sealed path could also improve access to the area for people with disabilities and mobility problems.

This same fact sheet shows the route through the Valley, which can only be described as meandering—hardly what you’d expect if it had just been haphazardly “slapped” down there.

It’s been years since I’ve been to Yarran Dheran and I’m not really across the issues in respect of Eastlink, but this just seems so much like a beat-up to me. The Maroondah Leader article concludes:

Former transport minister Peter Batchelor said in October last year that tunnels were dug under the valley [to accommodate the Eastlink motorway]—at an estimated cost of $100 million—because “this area is very unusual and worth protecting”.

I think Mr Batchelor was right—it is a significant area of urban bushland. But to suggest that the impact of a meandering 3m-wide path is in any way comparable to the a multi-lane motorway is ludicrous. Conspiracy theorists may want to believe that there is an anti-cyclist agenda being pushed by News Corp all the way down to your local rag (especially when you consider this publication’s unfavourable coverage of the proposed Wantirna Road bike lanes last year). But far more likely, journalist Jan Harkin was just looking for a nice juicy angle for the story.

While the current design is still being finalised, at this stage the plan

is to provide a continuous shared use path linking to the following parks

and reserves:

• Mullum Mullum Valley, Ringwood Bypass, Schwerkolt Cottage and Eastland to

• Simpsons Park / Heatherdale Reserve Proclamation Park to

• Koomba Park via Dandenong Creek Trail to Wantirna Reserve on to

• Blind Creek / Llewellyn Park Complex on to

• Nortons Park, Shepherds Bush, Drummies Bridge Reserve to

• Jells Park Trail Network and Chesterfield Farm

• Corhanwarrabul wetlands

• Potentially Carribean Gardens and Corhanwarrabul Creek on to

• Mulgrave Reserve / Dandenong Creek and Tirhatuatan Park through to

• Fotheringham Reserve Trail to Mile Creek and Greaves Reserve via Dandenong Creek trail to

• National Watersports Complex, Patterson Lakes open space, Carrum Foreshore or via Ray Dove Reserve, Edithvale Wetland, Seaford Frankston Foreshore and the Port Phillip Bay Trail Network beyond.

SEITA and the project parties are liaising with councils, Bicycle Victoria and local community groups about the final exact route and design.

The primary shared use path is a 3m wide concrete path, while secondary shared use paths vary in width due to integration with existing paths.

As soon as all design details are finalised, a guide to the new path network will be published and available to the public.”

At least there will be some positives out of yet another massive tollway development in Melbourne!

Should make for some good rides with linkages across the outer eastern suburbs.