Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn) (19:09): (1853) My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Public Transport, and the action I seek is that the minister provide a detailed update on the Box Hill to Hawthorn strategic cycling corridor, including its current scope and costing, the work undertaken since the 2021 feasibility study and what would be required to take the project through detailed design and completion. This is not a new issue. The concept has been advocated by the Boroondara Bicycle Users Group since 1995, with a detailed route proposal updated and assessed by the City of Boroondara in 2005. In November 2023 I asked the government when it would make a decision on funding the trail following the completion of a feasibility study in 2021. At that time there had been no progress on the design and no funding announced. I called on the government to commit to funding the trail.

In April this year I wrote to the Minister for Public and Active Transport again seeking support to progress the corridor, including funding for detailed design and consideration of a dedicated project team or steering committee. Since the feasibility study there has been further planning around the corridor, and related infrastructure has progressed, as I am advised. But the question remains unanswered: given this government has been in office for 12 years, why hasn’t this project moved from being a recognised strategic corridor to a project with a defined scope, funded detailed design and an achievable pathway to completion?

The corridor is around 10 kilometres long, linking Box Hill, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills, Canterbury and Hawthorn. Its benefits are well documented. It would provide a safer, more direct connection between local communities, railway stations and more than 20 schools, including Swinburne University of Technology in my electorate. It would support more people to walk and cycle everyday journeys, help reduce congestion, improve access to public transport and deliver environmental and broader health benefits while filling an important gap in Melbourne’s strategic cycling network. I have always been supportive of this project, along with the many people who have advocated for it over many years. I hope the minister’s response can provide some clarity about actual work this government has undertaken to progress this important project forward and see it finally delivered.