By NICOLE VALICEK
GAPS within the existing on and off-road bicycle network and building on the current system to develop a highly connective bicycle network are key issues of a revised bicycle plan for Hobsons Bay.
Hobsons Bay City Council has reviewed its Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013 at its ordinary meeting last week.
It will now be placed on public exhibition for six weeks.
The review identified $3.2 million of trail works over the next four years on Laverton Creek, Skelton Creek, Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail and Kororoit Creek.
It also found that over the past six years the council had spent $2.2 million on completed planning and construction of various recreation trails across the municipality.
According to the review there are “significant gaps in the provision of shared trails and on-road routes within Hobsons Bay which restrict commuter and recreational cyclists and pedestrians”.
The original plan aims to provide a framework for the development of a highly connective bicycle network (on-road and off-road routes) within the city of Hobsons Bay.
The Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan was first adopted in 2003 and had not been reviewed for a decade, until now. The review identified completed works and further recommendations.
As an avid bicycle rider Councillor Sandra Wilson said it would be a challenge to allocate funding for the needs of the municipality’s bicycle network but that bicycle use was an increasing trend in the city.
“(It will be a) challenge to meet these needs, that does not take away from good planning and good planning means you can get there in the end,” she said.
“I have to say it’s disappointing that other levels of government are not coming to the party as much as they should on this, but we will keep chipping away at it.”
Cr Wilson said the review also includes end of journey facilities such as bike parking.
According to the council more than 120 sites were inspected by members of the review team to determine existing conditions and to identify issues and problems.
High priorities identified in the review include completion of the Bay Coastal Trail, in particular Maddox Rd/JT Gray Reserve, and Greenwich Reserve through to the rear of the Newport Power Station; completion of sections of the Laverton Creek Trail and Skeleton Creek Trail; planning and design for complex areas of the proposed Kororoit Creek Trail and completion of new on-road bicycle lanes on Blyth St Altona, Hall St Spotswood and North Rd Newport.
It review states that the overall development of the bicycle network within Hobsons Bay relied on the future funding of “network improvements by government agencies”.To view the plan, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
