Hobsons Bay City Council (HBCC)

Budget Proposal 2010/2011

'To Boost Civic Pride'

 

 

 

08/06/2010

 

A Budget Submission from the Hobsons Bay Bicycle User Group (HBBUG)

 

 

 

To the Mayor, Councillors, Council Staff, Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

A budget proposal to boost civic pride, by improving vistas of the City we as residents live in, is always admirable.

To fulfil this goal, Council has made available significant funding to produce an expression of civic pride within Hobsons Bay residents, by carrying out specific citywide projects.

I have seen similar initiatives carried out over the previous decades and have enjoyed the changes.  However, they soon became tired and dated.

 

The question needs to be asked, is this budget for this City today?

 

If we read the newspaper or watch the evening news, we would soon come to the conclusion that we live in uncertain economic times.

The Federal Government has responded to the economic uncertainties, by investing in infrastructure developments such as housing, roads etc.

Given this is the current economic climate; a budget to ‘Boost Civic Pride’ seems out of place.

What is also disturbing about this budget is that the health of residents regarding obesity and diabetes appears to not be a concern.

This was the very issue that was central to the HBBUG 2007/2008  Budget submission.

The City of Hobsons Bay as it was then, is also now a Diabetes Hot Spot.  Obesity and Diabetes are diseases that can be controlled by exercise such as walking or bicycle riding. (See the enclosed HBBUG 2007/08 Budget Submission)

 

In this or any other economic climate, what gives residents a sense of pride in their city, is similar expenditure to that of the Federal Government, particularly the development of recreational infrastructure that Hobsons Bay residents can easily use.

Providing funding for sporting fields, art and cultural centres, only benefit those residents that can play competitive sport and those residents who are gifted in the areas of art and culture.

Recreational infrastructure such as Shared Footways (Shared Bicycle/Foot Paths) and On-road Bicycle Lanes benefit the majority of residents who walk or ride a bicycle when ever they want to.  Through the provision of Shared Footways and On-Road Bicycle Lanes Council is seen to be targeting Obesity and Diabetes.  Thus promoting Civic Pride.

 

This kind of infrastructure also benefits these residents by not restricting them to a day/time/location for their activity as competitive sport, art and cultural pursuits do.  This would promote Civic Pride.

Having a network of interconnected Shared Footways (for Recreation) and On-Road Bicycle Lanes (for Recreation and Commuting to work or training) would also promote Civic Pride and Bicycle Based Tourism (BBT) through Hobsons Bay by providing access to all areas of Hobsons Bay by bicycle.  Having the 'Punt' operating 7 days per week would also promote tourism.

This abovementioned infrastructure is also inviting and provides attractive (drawing people together) public places for the City.

 

The motorcar and bus no longer fits as the major mover of people.

The evidence of the Bolte Bridge spaghetti junction on the Westgate FWY, shows the more funding that is provided for road widening and traffic flow improvement, the more single occupant motor vehicles clog the roads and trap buses.  Single occupant motor vehicles occupy the vast number of car parks creating car-parking problems in Hobsons Bay.

When the price of oil rises to the level of 2 years ago, then even more people will be riding their bicycles, lawfully occupying road space interfering with the flow of motor vehicles as they go.

Having a network of interconnected Shared Footways (for Recreation) and On-Road Bicycle Lanes (for Recreation and Commuting to work or training) would minimise the interference to the flow of motor vehicles.

 

For the benefits of funding Shared Footways and On-Road Bicycle Lanes and the desire of the Proposed Budget to 'Boost Civic Pride' to be fully realised, the issue of Shared Footways and On-Road Bicycle Lanes being safe to ride on, without threat of injury from colliding with 'Furniture' or ‘Devices’ must be considered.

The threat of injury (Personal Safety) is a consideration to be dealt with, if attraction to Hobsons Bay for Bicycle Based Tourism (BBT) by residents or visitors is to be enhanced.

This also raises the issue of Cycling and Women and given there has been a degree of promoting in the media of the achievements of women in the Hobsons Bay area, this is another issue for Council to consider and act on.

Women are reluctant to ride bicycles because of safety fears.

(See the E-mailed and/or attached Research from Melbourne University by Janice Lo)

 

There should be no furniture or devices in a Shared Footway or On-Road Bicycle Lane that has the potential to injure anyone that rides a bicycle. This would promote Civic Pride.

Safety fears come after seeing a cluster of 9 square poles in the Shared Footway at Explosives reserve, Bollards 1 Meter high along Altona Beach not painted as per the 2004 HBBUG Submission in response to the HBSBP, 1 Meter high barricades across the Shared Footway at Altona Meadows, 7 Pairs of 1 Meter High Deflection Rails across Laverton and Altona Meadows, 5 bridges and 1 creek crossing along the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail without safety railing and a fence abutting (not 500mm min. away from) the Shared Footway near Jawbone Reserve.  Bollards, Fences and bridge safety railing most not be higher than 900mm, in order to avoid handlebar strike type collisions, which cause serious injuries to cyclists whose handlebars are at approximately 1Meter high.

What was the result of risk the assessment that was conducted before installing this furniture or these devices?

Power Poles in the middle of Queen St or Melbourne Rd. would not be tolerated by motorists, neither would using Armco Railing to narrow Queen St. or Melbourne Rd. to one traffic lane, yet this is being done to cyclists in Hobsons Bay.

 

The response by Parks Victoria to remove the Deflection Rails at the new Bridge over Skeleton Ck. was; "Following our recent email discussions I followed up your issues with the Vic Roads delegate for the Standards Committee and apparently the Banana Rails have been removed from the new standards due to danger issues which are to be released soon as such we have removed the rails."  Therefore, Hobsons Bay City Council should follow Parks Victoria's lead and remove all of the Deflection Rails for the same reason.  I have seen a Bobcat drive between the 'Rails' on the north side of Queen St. on the Laverton Ck. Shared Footway and a Golf Buggy has been driving regularly along the Laverton Ck. Shared Footway and through the 'Rails' on the south side of Queen St.  Therefore, the claim that these 'Rails' are to keep motor vehicles out of the creek area is invalid, as the evidence shows they have failed to perform that function and should be removed.

 

As previously discussed with Phillip McDonald, the HBBUG vision for Hobsons Bay is that Hobsons Bay be seen as a 'Bicycle Friendly Municipality, through the provision of Safe Bicycle Infrastructure'. This would promote Civic Pride.

 

 

Recreational infrastructure such as Shared Footways and On-Road Bicycle Lanes (for Recreation and Commuting to work or training) is an area that has been historically either overlooked or under-funded.

The HBCC Media Release 23 May 2003 p.2 (Attached to the enclosed HBBUG 2007/08 HBCC Budget Submission) in reference to the Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan (HBSBP), expects that by 2013 $8 Million in works would have been implemented by then.

 

In the 2008/09 HBCC Budget, $390,000 was allocated to reconstruct the Skeleton Ck. Shared Footway at Point Cook Rd. and locate the Shared Footway under Point Cook Rd.

The route favoured by cyclists, is to continue the Skeleton Ck. Shared Footway on the south side of Skeleton Ck. from Wyndham through Hobsons Bay to Sanctuary Lakes in the east to connect with the new bridge over Skeleton Ck.

The 2008/09 Budget allocation of  $390,000 needs to be spent on this project this calendar year.

 

Since the HBBUG Budget Submission in 2007/2008 there has only been an observed 5-600 meters of new Shared Footway constructed.

At this time there are more residents riding their bicycles on the Shared Footways and On-Road in Hobsons Bay and this has resulted in the need for vastly increased funding in the range of $500,00 per year to complete the Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan (HBSBP) by 2013.  This would promote Civic Pride.

As the HBBUG Budget Submission in 2007/2008 shows there are a number of Shared Footway missing links that need to be completed. Skeleton Ck. Shared Footway under Point Cook Rd., Laverton Ck. Shared Footway to the Federation Trail and Kororoit Ck. Shared Footway to the Federation Trail and a vast array of missing On-Road Bicycle Lanes.  These new works would promote Civic Pride.

 

But what I see in the proposed 2010/2011 budget Appendix 'C' p.1, that is easily identified as new Shared Footway construction is 'Laverton Ck. Trail $200,000 and Bicycle plan implementation $50,000.

There is no mention of the $390,000 Skeleton Ck. Shared Footway allocation being used.  Why?

Where and on what is the $200,000 being spent regarding the Laverton Ck. Trail?

Where and on what is the $50,000 being spent regarding Bicycle plan implementation?

 

The HBBUG in 2008 also put forward to council the following recommendation for Newport Lakes Park development.

 

 

15/09/2008

 

 

To

The Director of Works and Assets

City of Hobsons Bay

 

Mr Phillip McDonald,

 

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you for your letter dated 24^th of July 2008.

 

 

A few months ago some supporters of the Hobsons Bay Bicycle User Group (HBBUG) made mention to me of the joy they had as physically impaired people riding their tricycles around Cherry Lake.
However, since they have moved to Newport, they have found their opportunity to ride their tricycles curtailed.  They say this is due to the volume of traffic along Mason St. and the paths around Newport Lakes being steep and having a rough surface.

I add, this rough and in some parts, very steep walking path also restricts access to prams and wheelchairs as well
 

I am wondering if council could create a measured circuit of 2.5 km (approximately) inside the Boundary fence around Newport Lakes (See map enclosed), consisting of a 2.5 Meter wide x 100 mm deep reinforced, high tensile concrete path complete with 3 work-out stations 800 meters apart, 2 Meters off the path.
 

 

This suggested location of the Shared Footway generally follows the concept presented in your letter 24^th of July 2008 in the second paragraph, where a suggested route for this Shared Footway is put forward.  “Another option that may be considered is for a path system to be provided on flatter land above the lake (around the playground and arboretum) and it could go outside the park and around the lake on the street.”

 

It is proposed that the Shared Footway would be contained within the confines of Newport Lakes Park and separated from the Nature Trails.

 

The enclosed map shows that approximately 50% of the proposed path is on an existing vehicle track that closely follows the inside of the boundary fence of Newport Lakes Park.

In this location the 2.5 M x 100 mm path could be laid on top of the ground (so as not to damage existing tree roots) and then be back filled to remove the drop-off to the ground on either side of the pavement.

 

Where the Shared Footway leaves the existing path, on the southwest corner of the North West Plain there is need for a bridge across a small gully.  From this location the path would need to be dug-in to ground level to avoid damage to grassed areas past the arboretum around the playground along Graham and Margaret Sts.  Then in a northerly direction past Pavey’s Picnic Area, past the car park, then to turn west to behind the toilets and bicycle parking and South East across the entry path to the Nature Walk, to hug the southern Newport Lakes Park boundary fence.
 

There may be some difficulty in creating a flat surface for a Shared Footway along the Southern boundary of the park due to the land sloping down toward the Nature Trail and the lake.

In this location an embankment could be constructed by excavating a groove into the slope in a downward angle at just below the ground level at the height of the properties on the southern side of the park.  The groove created could locate 1Meter diameter boulders to be backfilled with rock filled clay and thereby create a flat foundation for the concrete pavement.

Alternatively, an elevated Shared Footway could be created by driving steel pylons into the ground to suspend a steel mesh of the type used for gangways in marine engine rooms and arranged like that which is located along the walking path from Thredbo to Mt Kosciusko in NSW.

Primary access to this location for these works would be through the Park.  Additional access could be gained from Mason St through Matthews Industries storage yard or through one of the adjacent side streets.

 

This Shared Footway would significantly enhance the amenity and subsequently the use of the park by local schools, parents with prams or young children, those with motorised or non-motorised wheelchairs and the elderly, as it would replicate the environment of Cherry Lake for Newport, not only for these tricyclists but for all other residents as well.

 

I am of the opinion that the cost of constructing this Shared Footway will be outweighed by the significantly increased usage of Newport Lakes Park and the associated benefit to the community this new facility will provide.

 

Could you please let me know of your view of my suggestion?

 

Yours sincerely

 

Noel C. Dyson

Convenor              Hobsons Bay Bicycle User Group (HBBUG)