Tuesday, 28 May 2024

 Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (13:16): Earlier this month I welcomed the Minister for Public and Active Transport to the Northcote electorate to see and discuss some of our important local transport projects. Starting at Farm Road in South Alphington, we met with local advocate James Thyer to discuss the Alphington link to the Darebin Yarra Trail, a critical project funded by the Victorian Labor government. VicRoads originally proposed a footbridge at this site, but we are modifying the plan to make it a ground-level path to save more trees, minimise impact and blend better into the landscape which abuts the Darebin Creek. It has been a long road for our community to secure funding, pass legislation, consult and design. We still have a fairly involved planning scheme and acquisition process, and I appreciate everyone’s patience with what will ultimately be a very welcome addition to our active transport network.

In High Street, Thornbury, the minister and I stopped to discuss the planning underway to make the 86 tramline more accessible – much needed given the very long stretch with no level-access stops. We then popped into the Preston tram depot to meet the wonderful Yarra Trams team, who briefed us on the use of 3D printing to rapidly and locally manufacture the parts our trams need to get back in service after a collision or fault.

To round out the minister’s visit to the inner north, we dropped into Umberto’s for a delicious pasta and spoke about the completed upgrades at Merri and Thornbury stations, including a new secure bike Parkiteer. I want to thank the minister for visiting the inner north with me to see and hear about our important local transport projects as we work to improve livability in our suburbs.