Whitehorse Council Ride with mayor and councillors
We were very pleasantly surprised to receive a request from the Whitehorse mayor, Cr Andrew Davenport in early January 2025, suggesting we accompany him on a familiarisation ride in Whitehorse to inspect cycling trouble spots. The mayor indicated he would use the information to seek actions by council and if possible, funding in the budget to address some of these issues.
In consultation with the Whitehorse Active Transport Action Group (WATAG) two rides were planned for the morning and afternoon of Saturday 18th January. Two other councillors (newly elected), Cr Kieran Simpson and Cr Jason Martin joined the morning and afternoon rides respectively.
The morning ride covered issues along the Box Hill to Ringwood path, while the afternoon ride focussed on potential interconnection of major cycling routes, Eastlink trail with Pipe Reserve trail, and Gardiners Creek trail with Box Hill to Ringwood and thence to Bushy Creek and Koonung trails.
Whitehorse Council area
We have requested a follow up meeting with with officers to review progress since our last meeting in July 2024. We plan to pursue the following:-
- Connection of Box Hill to Ringwood path with Civic Centre via lane beside Harvey Norman.
- Progress with VicTrack negotiation;
- Commencement of detailed planning on parallel with a) above.
- Walkers Road Nunawading. Box Hill to Ringwood path, currently on road, to be moved onto VicTrack land as originally planned, with parking moved to North side of road.
- Laburnum Street segment of Box Hill to Ringwood path. Review of the current unsatisfactory and hazardous mixing of vehicular traffic with cyclists. Discussion of possible options for improvement.
- Connection of future Healesville Freeway Reserve SUP to Pipe Track. Review of options.
- Connection of Eastlink SUP to Pipe Track via Burwood Highway south side service lanes, cut throughs and widened footpaths. Preliminary discussion.
Monash Council area
We have been lobbying for a long time for the construction of the missing link of the Waverley Rail Trail between Jordanville and Mount Waverley. Monash Council has recently released plans for the path alignment :
We have raised the following issues with the design:
- Is the existing footpath from Huntingdale Rd past the entrance to Jordanville Station to be widened to three metres plus clearance to the existing fence?
- The path where it crosses Alvie Rd is proposed to be close to the railway bridge. Does this optimise sight lines for both path users and motorists using Alvie Rd?
- The path does not travel through the Mt Waverley Council and Railway car parks to link with the existing WRT alongside the station. The route through the car parks is currently the popular route to the station and to continue on to the WRT.
The proposed scheme which ends in Arthurson St seems to propose an on road route on Arthurson and Alexander Streets and Hamilton Square.
Maroondah Council area
We are urging Maroondah Council to improve cycling lanes Eastwards along Bedford Road, from Ringwood station at least as far as Hill Street. This is key to having a safe cycling connection for the Box Hill to Ringwood path to:-
- the Heathmont – Belgrave trail, which has had a recent upgrade as part of the rail grade separation on the Belgrave line, and
- The East Ringwood – Croydon – Lilydale trail which has also had a welcome segment built as part of the Ringwood East level crossing removal.