After a fiery night at Ballarat Town Hall, a decision was finally reached on the contentious VicRoads and City of Ballarat cycling plan.
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Ballarat City Council resolved to proceed with elements of the Ballarat Safer Cycling Connections plan at an ordinary council meeting last night.
City of Ballarat officers recommended in a report that councillors accept the partnership and enter into a funding agreement with VicRoads for the delivery of $8.17 million worth of infrastructure for the city.
Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh moved an alternate motion which was passed. It accepted funding and agreed to work as a partner with VicRoads, but also called for the review of Drummond Street, Doveton Street and Sturt Street proposals.
“Those cycle routes are used not just by cyclists, mums with prams, kids walking with their friends,” Cr McIntosh said
“In a partnership with VicRoads, it’s important that we have an opportunity to review these projects.”
Cr Amy Johnson moved an amendment to the motion which included condemning VicRoads for a lack of consultation, which was voted down.
Cr Johnson and Cr Ben Taylor voted against the successful motion.
A heritage assessment of the Sturt Street Gardens will also be undertaken to enhance and protect the area, with further consultation of community and business on the proposals.
The Ballarat Safer Cycling Connections plan consists of 14 different projects.
Three projects related to crossing Sturt Street at six crossroads and the creation of a bike path down the central median strip were taken off the table by Premier Daniel Andrews.
Each project will need to pass through council again with finalised plans and thorough costing before any infrastructure works begin.
VicRoads western regional director Mal Kersting said the plan was a joint effort between the agency and City of Ballarat to “join the dots” of Ballarat’s existing cycling infrastructure.
“We need to have a look at what is an alternative route for an East to West cycling path,” he said.
“The funding is there, and we need the best arrangement for making that work.”
“We have to still have to do this piece of work to treat the safety of the crashes [on Sturt Street], and at this stage, we don’t know what that will be.”
Ballarat Bicycle Users Group representative Matt Briody said while communication about the plan could have been better, changes would need to be made on Sturt Street to make cycling connections viable.
“At it’s heart, this plan is primarily about transport,” he said.
“It is possible to kill the network of paths if you don’t build one right in the middle.”
