Moreland BUG

As previously mentioned, MorelandBUG asked candidates running in the upcoming Council Elections to measure their support for cycling and thoughts on cycling issues in the Moreland area.

Below is a link to the survey with answers filled out by Moreland Council Election Candidates.

Moreland Council Election Candidates Responses (.pdf, 84KB)

Dear BUGgees,

As you would know, the Moreland Council elections will be held this Saturday, and Moreland BUG surveyed candidates ahead of the election to find out who supports cycling and who is less enthusiastic.

Attached is a press release we put out with some of the results of the survey – we had thought it was going to get a run in this week’s Leader but unfortunately it didn’t.

You will note that the inaugural ‘Wooden Spoke Booby Prize’ for least bike-friendly candidate was jointly awarded to Anthony Cianflone and Michael Andrews.

The press release outlines some of the high- and low-lights, but doesn’t give a full overview of each candidate’s position. We will aim to have this overview done by late this week, in time to help you decide how to cast your vote! In the meantime, if you have any specific questions please feel free to email me and I’ll answer as best as I can.

Cheers, Anna

Candidate Survey Media Release

Council elections are on Saturday November 29.

Bicycle Victoria has invited candidates to give their views on bicycle riding.

Here are the responses from Moreland Council candidates.

The National Ride to Work day is on Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

Around Moreland, the following Ride to Work activities will be happening.

The City of Moreland is hosting a breakfast in the Victoria Street Mall, Coburg, from 7:30am - 9:00am.

Commuter Cycles (14 Prentice Street, Brunswick) is offering espresso coffee (with a barista and machine in for the day) fresh fruit, and bacon & egg sandwiches, plus a quick bike tune up if you need it.
When: 7am to 10am
Cost: A gold coin donation, and that you register for Ride To Work Day.

Human Powered Cycles (38 Harrison St, Brunswick East) is offering:

• 8-9am - free intro bike maintenance training
• Free puncture repair all day
• 10% off parts and accessories all day
• 5-6pm - free intro bike maintenance training
• 6-8pm - drinks and pizza with the crew… open to everyone!

BV have a comprehensive list of other community breakfasts around the city and state.

Please remember to register, as the stats of how many people ride helps bicycling advocacy (and you have a chance of winning some great prizes!).

If you haven’t ridden to work before and you are not sure where to start, have a read of Bicycle Victoria’s “Where do I start?” guide.

An update from Kevin Ayrey at the City of Yarra:

Hi All,

Recently I contacted you with notification that improvement works were to be carried out to a section of the Merri Creek shared trail between Rushall Station and High Street bridge during September. Unfortunately these works have been delayed, and will now not take place until mid November. It is expected that the works will take 4 weeks to complete. The delay is due to the need to coordinate with the contractors undertaking the Clifton Rail Duplication Project, who are currently very active in the area, and access to the site is limited by construction vehicle movements.

The adjusted timing of the City of Yarra shared trail works will not impact on the closure requirements and diversions in place for the Clifton Rail Duplication project.

If you have any queries please feel free to contact me via the details below.

Regards,

Kevin Ayrey

Landscape Architect
Open Space Branch

City of Yarra

ph. (03) 9205 5721
fax. (03) 8417 6666
email ayreyk@yarracity.vic.gov.au
mail P O Box 168, Richmond 3121

Here is the Moreland BUG’s submission to the draft Brunswick Structure Plan.

Massive thanks to Anna, Geoff, Paul, Katie, Peter and Clare for their contributions.

The linear rail trail (part of the Capital City Trail) runs along the old inner circle railway and part of it runs through the south side of Moreland.

There have been some works on two parts of the trail recently, removing dog legs.

At Lygon St:

Near the intersection of Holtom St W and Solly Ave:

News from Kevin Ayrey, the Open Space Planning Landscape Architect at the City of Yarra:

From around September 1st to 30th the City of Yarra will be carrying out works to improve the shared trail between the footbridge over the creek at Rushall Station, and the East side of the High Street overpass. The works will realign the shared trail and increase the width to 3 metres, as suggested in the Merri Creek Shared Trail Review recently conducted. In particular, it will reduce the steep grades just after the footbridge heading East, and just before going under High street bridge. This will improve safety for all users, and provide a suitable sized path for future users. The area under the bridge will be slightly raised and graded to drain to eliminate the ponding that has occurred hear. The existing path will be removed and revegetated.

The works have been timed to coincide with the Clifton Rail Duplication Works, so that disruption to cycle and pedestrian traffic will be only slightly greater than is in place with current diversions. There will be times during the works when there is no access to this stretch of track. At these times alternative routes will be shown.

I have enclosed an image to give a broad idea of where these works are taking place. We will be working closely with the contractor to minimise disturbance to vegetation outside the proposed path area, and to revegetate where necessary.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further queries.

Kevin Ayrey
Landscape Architect

Open Space Planning

City of Yarra PO Box 168 Richmond 3121

T (03) 9205 5721 F (03) 8417 6666
E Kevin.Ayrey@yarracity.vic.gov.au
W www.yarracity.vic.gov.au

On Monday night, Moreland City Council adopted an amended budget that includes $291,000 for additional cycling infrastructure!

Thanks to everyone who helped in the campaign, including Toby, Rod and Anna who spear-headed the BUG work, the various BUG members who assisted, Bicycle Victoria, councillors and others.

The Draft Brunswick Structure Plan is now out for consultation. The plan is the local implementation of Melbourne 2030. It sets out the long term mud map for the future of Brunswick, it details how the activity centre will develop and what needs to happen to make it a reality.

Toby Archer, from Moreland BUG, has been lucky enough to have been involved in the community steering committee. He is strongly encouraging BUG folks to get along to one of the community information sessions and make a submission to council. Its a great chance to have an impact on what our city will look like in the future. There will also be a Public Debate at the East Brunswick Club (280 Lygon St, East Brunswick) on 25 July.

For more info go to:
http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/services/brunswickstructureplan-fr.htm