Bicycle Network Victoria: Metro Routes

Draft Yarra Bend Park sport and recreation directions plan

20 November 2008. Parks Victoria, in association with the Cities of Boroondara, Darebin and Yarra, is preparing a draft for community consultation. The Plan will guide the development of sport and recreation facilities within the Yarra Bend Park.

You can help us to support this precinct into Melbourne's premier, and most diverse, cycling precinct in Melbourne, encapsulating all types of riding from the Main Yarra Trail for recreation and commuting riders to the Boulevard itself for high intensity riders.

The draft also has noted the desire for the mtb trails and closed road loop criterium circuit to be upgraded.

Our vision for the Yarra Bend Park is driven by its accessibility to so many users, diversity of offerings for riders and the achievability of this.

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Our key asks are:

Main Yarra Trail upgrade

The draft currently does not mention the Trig Point Precinct from Fairfield Boathouse, PipeBridge and across to Chandler Bridge at northern end of Yarra Bend Park. This does not reflect Parks Victoria's plan to to realign and upgrade the Path between the pipebridge and Chandler Bridge nor the concept of the Chandler Underpass which has just recieved funding for a feasibility study.

There is also a need to address the Gipps St Steps issue which also has just recieved fundin for a bridge at Clarke St to bypass the steps for riders.

Other areas of the trail could be upgraded to reflect the volume of users, such as the section of path between the Dights Falls and Yarra Bend Rd. There has also been discussions between Yarra Valley Water regarding the decommissioned water pipe at the fairfield bridge which would allow its removal and upgrade of the bridge for better width and surface.

The Boulevard

Kew Boulevard is currently one of Melbourne's most popular training circuit, second only to Beach Rd. Thousands of riders use it weekly and are attracted to its low traffic volumes and challenging ride. We believe that the Boulevard is the ideal candidate for a Sunday Circuit, where the road could be closed to traffic on a regular basis so that more people will be attracted to get on their bikes and give this readily available challenge a go.

The existing closed loop along the Boulevard already attracts many riders and is used by local Cycling groups to hold events. A surface upgrade, particularly on the harpin corner would be welcomed by many riders. 

Off road trails

The strategy mentions a desire to a rationalisation of some tracks and trails may be required. This could be done in such a way to meet the needs of the many mtb riders who have few options in the metropolitan area. We encourage riders to make their thoughts known.

The draft plan is available here.

Written submissions should be sent to the consultants, here.