Thursday, 20 September 2018

Walmer Street bridge, Kew

To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:

The petition of Walmer Street bridge users, and as Victorian residents, draws to the attention of the house the following:

The Walmer Street bridge, comprising the river and land bridge sections, which is heavily used by pedestrians and bike riders, is narrow, crowded and a hazard to all users.

Its width (1.7 metres at its narrowest) is insufficient to cope safely with the heavy utilisation by pedestrians and bike riders, as determined by Boroondara City Council usage counts and a recent safety audit.

The bridge is strategically important as it is a key link in the principal bicycle network and a bicycle priority route.

As such, it provides a vital link for the communities of Kew, Richmond, Abbotsford and beyond, providing sustainable and ready access to nearby parkland, transport hubs, businesses and community services.

A new bridge urgently needs to be built across the Yarra River at Walmer Street for the changing needs of the rapidly increasing population of the Abbotsford and Kew areas.

Your petitioners therefore request that to ensure the safety of the rapidly growing number of users, and to avoid potential closure of the bridge, the state government urgently fund a replacement, with a contemporary design, that meets both current standards and the needs of the growing number of users, in keeping with Melbourne’s reputation as a world-class liveable city.