Kingston's Bay Trail

Please finish the Baytrail just as you did the length between the Mentone Life Saving Cluab and Charman Road. Please do not narrow Beach Road.

Preserving what little native vegetation remains on top of the dunes in this stretch of Beach Rd should be our number 1 priority. If that requires the road lanes to be narrowed from their present generous 3.4m width, to 3.3m or 3.0m widths, then go ahead and do it. The VicRoads standard allows lanes to be as narrow as 2.7m, so they'll still be well within the allowable standard. And there will still be 4 lanes. Anyone who drives along Beach Rd between Mentone and Hampton will already have experienced these narrower lanes through Bayside Council, so I'm really not sure why there's so much fuss. Get on with it.

Supposedly we were to vote for the "Narrowing of Beach Road" as a viable option, how could VIC ROADS, having read all the reports from Vic Roads in reference to previous consultation in the past few years, actually agree to go ahead with this proposal by the Kingston council and "okay" this outcome in view of the conclusions they have reached in the past, THAT TO NARROW BEACH ROAD WOULD NOT BE A VIABLE SAFE OPTION for cars, cyclists, pedestrians. Why, therefore, are WE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. Unless there are fewer people using the road, and cars have become "narrower" , how can VIC ROADS GO AGAINST THEIR OWN ADVICE??? One wonders who's running the show!!

As a bike rider there, FAR SAFER to have 2 clear lanes than worry about some kid appearing from between cars or opening doors onto riders.

Same as a driver. Get the parking off the road.

As a resident, had a look at video. Disgusting. Cr Gledhill 2 meetings making personal and vindictive comments towards other councilors, inciting the gallery into violence. Cr Brownlees disrespect use of a bike riders death to push his cause.

As local (Parkdale) residents we certainly oppose any suggestion of narrowing beach road. The road is already terribly congested and slow with Recreational cyclists who often show little regard for road rules, parked cars who do so often without regard for the parking restrictions and the ever growing local and peninsula population using it to access the city all collectively already pushing this route to its limits. Safety is also a real concern given both the young and elderly demography of the area especially if more cars are pushed to park on side streets. Our street (greenways) is often packed with cars already making a tight court even more congested. Similarly when pulling out on to warrigal our view of often obstructed by parked cars who park there to attend beach etc.

Things the councillors should be looking at are alleviating congestion and improving traffic flow not adding to it.

Please do pass on our strong objection to this proposal.

We of course accept the need for appropriate conservation and recreational activities but this must be balanced against the realities of a booming population base and infrastructure, roads and thorough fares already under pressure. Beach road is a mess any impact on reduced lanes that has a serious impact on traffic flow and safety is of considerable concern

Re The proposed narrowing of Beach Rd:
To me. it is not just the issue of endangering the lives of users of Beach Rd which so many people have rightfully raised; the other REAL major issue to me is the complete lack of transparency employed by those councillors who are simply trying to fool the decision-makers in Vic Roads into believing that their latest proposal has the support of residents. Plainly as all the evidence and action shows; they do not.
I implore them to drop their fanatical agenda and underhanded tactics and return to what they are supposed to do; represent the democratic voice of their electors as was shown in the November 2016 vote

Please just embrace the residents emphatic wish to NOT narrow Beach Rd,
This scrub area is easily the least attractive part of PPB's foreshore, lets make it attractive and safe for the bike riders and families.

To even consider narrowing Beach Road is sheer folly. The thought of my rates going to pay claims for people injured as a result of the road narrowing makes my blood boil. Listen to the Councillors who live in the electorate, not those who live nowhere near Beach Road.

I feel that the original proposal, which we all voted on many months ago, makes the most sense in achieving a safer outcome for both "users of the bike path" and "current traffic users, both bikes and cars" in the area. Having lived here for the last 15 years I have seen cyclists killed, many car accidents and my daughters have experienced criminal activity in the badly lit and hidden trails on the cliff top.
From what I have seen and heard there is absolutely no practical reason to "narrow" Beach Road. It is hard enough to navigate now , particularly with the increased number of car users and cyclists, let alone if emergency vehicles are required. The proposed plan is a recipe for disaster all for the sake of a small amount of "vegetation" or should we say "rat infested scrub".
The already completed sections of the trail seem to have posed no threat to any current road users so let's just see sense and complete as originally proposed..which is what we all want and voted on.. what was the point!!!

I think that the original proposal that was passed makes the most sense and keeps the community safer. The current paths are badly lit and hidden from the road, I am surprised that there isn't more reports of criminal activity going on there. Upgrading the existing path would make it available for more people to be able to utilise and minimise the disruption to traffic who use the road daily, both bikes and cars. The road needs to be considered for cyclists as the speeds that the cyclists travel at would not be safe on a shared path. One metre passing is also an important consideration that the council seems to be ignoring, as the road is now it can sometimes be difficult to pass cyclists and comply with the Law.

We write to indicate our rejection of the latest attempt by some Councillors to change the proposal adopted by the previous Council to continue the Bay Trail along Beach Rd at the back of the kerb without any road narrowing or loss of parking.

We are very concerned about the predictable negative impact of this new proposal on our local neighbourhood. Our street (Herbert St) is already blocked at one end by vehicles using it as a carpark for Parkdale Station and its obvious that under the revised BayTrail proposal that the other end will also become blocked by vehicles being forced to park in side streets off Beach Rd, particularly during the summer months.

Beach Rd is already a very busy thoroughfare with vehicle and cycle traffic increasing exponentially annually. This road is shared by a huge number of cyclists, regular bus services and vehicle traffic. Reducing the lane width to the absolute minimum allowable by Vic Roads is both reckless and dangerous, and will become a major inconvenience for vehicles travelling during peak hours where traffic is often reduced to one lane and can back up for over a kilometre before the Nepean Highway intersection. Reducing existing lanes by 30 cms potentially increases risk for all road users. In reality, Council should be considering widening Beach Rd, not narrowing it.

This shortsighted and dangerous revised proposal needs to be reversed in the interests of residents, cyclists and motorists.

We would urge Council to reconsider its priorities with respect to the balance between safety and the environment, by placing the safety and welfare of cyclists and motorists before the saving of a small amount of foreshore scrub.

Why is it that Bayside Council gets Beach Rd to 12m wide and their HFC cable (that's high frequency cable that was used as part of the pay tv network but is now use as part of our third world "NBN" - thanks to to the LNP paying dowry to their master Rupert) buried? Are we the country cousins that get the poor man's option/redneck treatment at every opportunity? If 12m and no indented parking is good enough for Bayside, it's good enough for us. No more country cousin treatment.

In this day and age with the constant increase of traffic on all roads, any suggestion of the narrowing beach road has to be a bad idea. I live in Sea Parade and like our street all the streets running off beach road are very narrow, in summer the increased volume of cars belonging to beach goers makes it very difficult to park outside our own homes, any reduction to the amount of parking available on beach road will make this worse.

I am a kingston resident living in central ward, in central ward. I've read all of the material available about the proposed bay trail, in addition to attending the recent council meeting with my family.
I'm very concerned about the changes to the width of beach road, in particular the effect that these changes will have on the safety of road users, including bike riders. It's been well documented that 1 metre matters when it comes to bike safety. With buses, cars and increasing numbers of cyclists on the road, I feel that safety should take precedence over low quality scrub which would be effected if the original bay trail plan was to be adopted.
In addition, losing parking is big concern, regardless of which numbers you believe. Less parking available will impact on all residents in the area, and on those visiting in summer months, where parking is hard to come by.
Go with the original plan!

In your FAQ's, you state: Why are you narrowing the road at all? We’re finally building the missing link of Melbourne’s Bay Trail. In order to fit the 3-metre wide cycling/walking path next to the roadside we’ll have to remove a significant amount of vegetation and slightly narrow the road.
This is a lie!!! You do not HAVE to remove a significant amount of vegetation AND narrow the road.
Stick to the original plan.

I am greatly upset by the new plans which endanger lives and increase Council spending unnecessarily. I am also upset by the manner in which these changes were implemented BEFORE obtaining a fresh and more specifically-oriented round of feedback. I am also upset that Council funds are being spent on propaganda material, contrary to the ideals of providing transparent government. (For instance, repeating the phrase that the amended plans are designed minimise vegetation loss is incredibly misleading - the overall vegetation being saved is .2 of a hectare!!! And at what cost!!!)

We object to the proposal to remove a significant number of car parking spaces from Beach Road in order to narrow the road to accommodate a walking and cycle track. We request that Council revert to its September 2016 resolution, remove the small amount of vegetation that is necessary and finish the Baytrail as originally planned.

Another example of Council waste.Listen to the vast majority of ratepayers who actually live in the area and will be impacted most. Remember the ratepayer puts you there to represent the ratepayers and their interests not any personal political agenda.

The bay trail completion is a complete waste of money. Commuting cyclists will not use it as they prefer to ride on the road. Recreational cyclists do not want to ride next to a busy road and breathe in toxic car exhaust fumes. It is already possible to ride along the sea wall between Mentone LFC and Mordialloc. This is the preferred route of recreational cyclists. Instead of wasting ratepayers money on flyers arguing the toss of the opinions of out of touch councilors, you need to survey what recreational cyclists who currently use the path actually want. Continuing on your current course will result in a white elephant that will get very little use and reduces the healthy exercising options for ratepayers. Note that I vehemently resent this wasting of ratepayers money on building a useless path, and the further waste you will incur by diverting council officers from legitimate duties to policing and fining recreational cyclists who will try to use the sea wall. trail.

As a regular motor vehicle user of Beach Road, I cannot wait for the Mordialloc to Mentone section to be slightly narrowed and for the parking on Beach Road issues to be resolved. I have no problem with the Beaumaris through Brighton section, which is narrower (although this is barely noticeable), has had the Bay Trail for many years & has alleviated most of the curb-side parking. When you have motor vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and parking all vying for road space something has to give and I feel the safest option is to get rid of the parking on curb-side & restrict it to the many off-road options.