East: Yarra Trail (Gipps St to Walmer St)
About this page
The City of Yarra is investigating an alternative alignment of the Main Yarra trail which would involve continuing the trail on the Abbotsford side around the back of the CUB brewery eliminating the Gipps St steps and the steep climb on the Boroondara side of the river.
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Gipps St Steps in the news
Jul 07 On July 17 the Melboure Leader had a story on finding a solution for the Gipps St steps. Click here (PDF 96KB) to read.
100 cyclists show their support for an alternative trail
Dec 05 On Wednesday morning, 14 December 2005 Bicycle Victoria and Richard Wynne, Member for Richmond, handed out a free Emma & Tom's juice to aprroximately 100 cyclists including the Mayor of the City of Yarra, Jackie Fristacky. The cyclists were happy to recieve a juice after climbing the 41 steps on the Main Yarra Trail near Gipps Street in Abbotsford as part of their morning commute.
Cyclists climbing the steps were pleased to hear that the City of Yarra and the State Government are to spend $100,000 on the design of the alternative route for the Main Yarra Trail. The most common question from cyclists was 'When will the new trail be finished?'Richard Wynne conveyed his hopes that the trail can be finished within two years.
You can show your support for the project to Minister Thwaites at john.thwaites@minstaff.vic.gov.au and Richard Wynne at richard.wynne@parliament.vic.gov.au. Don't forget to send a copy (bcc) to campaigns@bv.com.au.
Design funding announced
Oct 05 After Bicycle Victoria members wrote over 500 letters earlier this year, Minister Thwaites has announced a new fund for the Metropolitan Trail Network (MTN). Funding for the MTN now meets the state government’s 2002 election promise; however more money will be needed to fund critical projects.
The new fund will provide $50,000 towards detailed design and documentation for a connection between Walmer St and Gipps St. The City of Yarra will also provide $50,000 for the detailed design and documentation.
While the funding of the design is a commendable step, current government funding will not be able to build this multi-million dollar connection. A commitment of significant additional funding will be required within the next year to ensure the delivery of this project.
We believe that increasing the Metropolitan Trail Network annual funding to five million dollars could deliver this and other important projects on the trail network.
The development of the new fund provides all trail users with an opportunity to thank Minister Thwaites for developing the MTN fund and to thank Member for Richmond Richard Wynne for his support of the Gipps St to Walmer St project.
Project details
The Main Yarra Trail between the Walmer St bridge in Richmond (Melway 2H F2) and Collins Bridge at Gipps St in Abbotsford is of poor quality and requires a long hill climb in Yarra Bend Park and dangerous entry points to bridges (a cyclist suffered paraplegia as a result of hitting a bollard).
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At Gipps St a staircase takes trail users down to river level but restricts access to the trail for families with trailers or child seats on the bike, tandems, recumbants and anyone unable to carry their bike up or down the staircase. Frail walkers and wheelchairs users are also prevented from using the trail. |
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We want to see the steps eliminated by continuing the trail along the bank at river level behind the CUB brewery to Walmer St.
The City of Yarra is investigating an alternative alignment of the trail which would involve continuing the trail on the Abbotsford side around the back of the CUB brewery (see Melway 2D C12).
This would not only eliminate the steep steps but also the steep climb on the Boroondara side of the river.
In February 2005 we met with Richard Wynne, Member for Richmond, in order to gain state govenment support for the project.
Richard is familiar with the steps and reports that his family also struggles to carry their bikes up or down. We have also written to Yarra City Councillors about the project.
