Kingston's Bay Trail

Unbelievable that five councillors would trade off a small patch of scrubby vegetation against public safety and amenity. Outrageous that these councillors would selfishly and recklessly ignore basic common sense and public concerns. They should resign and seek another avenue to achieve fulfillment - ideally something more suited to their apparently limited intelligence. Before doing so, they should have the decency to reimburse the council the costs of pursuing their absurd agenda.

Build the remainder of the trail the same as the section between Charman Rd & Mentone LC. Simple, no brainer!

Am appalled at any suggestion to narrow Beach Road. This idea is poorly conceived, will disadvantage large sections of the community and will reduce safety for the local people and travelling public. It puts vegetation before community safety. It has NO redeeming features.

The most ridiculous thing I have heard. The council does not seem to care that the rate payers do not want the road narrowed. We have so much traffic on the road you already have bike paths. Trying to narrow the road will only make matters worse and may result in someone being seriously injured if not worse. Councillors don't even leave on the beach side and propose something that we don;t want. What a waste of time and effort. Narrowing the lanes is very dangerous with so many cars, trucks, buses and then the cyclists that think its their private lane.

Against any narrowing too many near misses now don't want more

I am a Greeny at heart. I vote Green, I am hugely for renewable energies and for looking after and beautifying the planet. However - since living along the beach it has become increasingly obvious to me how the beautiful view of our bay more often than not is blocked from those living and commuting along Beach Rd by what looks to be very unattractive scrub like fauna. It came as no surprise to me to learn that Biosis Environmental Report classified it as ‘low quality scrub’. Personally I have become increasingly pro clearing some of it so we, the public, can more readily enjoy the beautiful water views. I understand that some of it is important for the health of the cliffs, and that of course is important, but where it is not - I am of the belief that much of it could be cleared - and if planned for - more attractive fauna planted in a way that doesn’t block the view. To think that there is talk of narrowing this important scenic drive for the sake of saving a little of the scrub growing area seems too ludicrous for words.

I need to add here that Cr West implied at the meeting that those opposing the narrowing of Beach Rd were ‘tree haters’. I found this highly insulting and extremely ignorant of her. She clearly has no understanding of the public she is dealing with. I looked around at those there and they were not your ‘tree hating’ population!

Aside from this - Beach Road is very busy at various times of the day, especially on the weekends when huge numbers of bike riders, often in packs, utilise it, as well as sight seers and those cruising on a weekend drive to enjoy the bay (what they can see of it). Then there are the many that come to use the beach for recreational activities, who need to park their car. It’s not like there is a train line that hugs the bay, nor even buses that drive along the Beach Rd (thank goodness), so the public must drive to visit these beaches. On a warm day the beaches from Mentone to Mordialloc are very popular. I live on the corner of Beach and Naples and Naples fills with visiting cars as it is, often making it difficult to get a parking space close to home. I cannot imagine what these residential side streets would be like if the Beach Road parking were to be reduced to the extent this narrowing will cause. Not to mention the further parking needs ongoing building projects continue to create for the future. And as for the safety issues - it is tight for the cars and bikes to share this strip of road as it is, let alone if narrowed. If anything, it would be appropriate to be thinking of ways we could widen Beach Rd.

I completely against any narrowing of Beach Rd.

Deborah A.

I entirely support council's plan to complete the bay trail with minimal destruction of vegetation. Take a long and high view. Kingston from the air appears to be bitumen and tile, the foreshore is vanishingly narrow. The foreshore is a tiny fraction of the area's original landscape and the flora and fauna is surprisingly diverse , it should be proudly defended. How surprising and rare to chance upon Superb Fairy Wrens in a built-up suburb. Anything lost now will never be recovered.
Make road lanes to Vicroads standard and rescue the foreshore from bulldozers, roadhogs and developers who want to remove greenery to sell water views.

I support Council's plan to complete the Kingston Bay Trail by reducing the width of the road, according to VicRoads standard. It is the best course of action for the City of Kingston, and has been discussed enough and voted on. End of discussion.

I have young children and they know what the word "no" means. The City of Kingston must not be intimidated by a few of its citizens who show no respect for it or its democratic processes; who bully and spread hatred because they don't like the littlest and most powerful word in the English language. Stay strong and see this through.

I am perplexed that some Councillors are wanting to narrow Beach Road. It is a major road and with an ever increasing population will only see more traffic.
Streets off Beach Road (my street is one) are already being used as free parking for non residents using the beach. Most of these streets are very narrow and if cars park opposite each other make it nearly impossible to drive through, more so a fire engine or ambulance.
I am rather amused that these same councillors feel that the ugly scrub on the foreshore is worth protecting. What could be one of the most picturesque roads in Victoria is reduced to a scrub view.
I drive along Beach Road frequently and rarely see people using the bike path. Same for the walking track.
A democracy is rule by the people majority, this is not so in Kingston where a small minority have control.

This is fairly typical of KCC inability to think things through logically – it is ill conceived; poorly planned and will no doubt be badly implemented & managed. I think we are seeing clear signs of this now.

We all understand the need to protect local Flora & vegetation but at some point logic should prevail – this is one such case. The area that they want to protect is nothing but ugly scrub & bush - there are no redeeming features about it all. In the past it was only good for another purpose that I wont mention here but I'm sure police records will have show a story of what those bushes were good for. Use the money to beautify the area - use it to attract visitors to the area

Melbourne's Roads are already clogged and this will only add to the problem - it certainly wont make it any safer for drivers or road cyclists. So KCC propose to make one group safer (people who use footpaths to ride their bikes) and dangerous for another 2 groups - drivers & people who cycle on the road. This is ridiculous & possibly could leave the door open for future litigation should an accident occur in which people are hurt - injured or killed - simply because this proposal doesn't need to go ahead.


Therefore we (my wife & I) strongly object to the proposal to narrow Beach Rd

Greg & Laura Guerin
Parkers Rd
Parkdale

I support the back of kerb option which separates the bay trail from the road as it will retain the top of cliff path for walkers and minimise the loss of vegetation and accordingly reduces the loss of the Coastal Headland scrub and Coastal Dune scrub. the City of Kingston is at risk of losing too much vegetation.

It seems to be a good compromise for minimising loss of car parking and vegetation and the road design has or had the support of VicRoads.

I absolutely oppose any plans to narrow Beach Road as part of the proposed Bay Trail.

Have Councillors really thought through all the potential ramifications of their determination to narrow Beach road at any cost. There determinedness to ignore the community in order to push their personal agendas has been just frightening. All in the name of saving a small amount of low quality vegetation. For Councillors to put vegetation before people is just deplorable.

I am very concerned about the safety implications and the reduction in amenity if Beach Road is narrowed - for local residents, cyclists, pedestrians, parents dropping off and picking up children at Beach Road Schools, all motorists using Beach Road, beach users and residents up side streets off Beach Road.

With inner lanes of Beach Road proposed to be narrowed to just 3 metres and most cars these days measuring 2.5 metres from mirror to mirror, there won’t be much margin for error and surely minor collisions will become a daily occurrence.

Not to mention the Smart bus that already travels along Beach Rd – it measures 3 metres from mirror to mirror – how will this work in a 3 metre lane?!

How will cycles/cyclists fit into all of this? – surely the instances of ‘dooring’ and the potential for other cycle/car accidents will increase.

What will be the cost to the community if Beach Road is narrowed? – a fatality, I strongly suspect!

Give us the Bay Trail that 82% of the community voted for at the last public consultation. A final leg of the Bay Trail that is just like the existing one between Charman Rd and Mentone Life Saving Club – back of kerb with safe indented parking and two clear lanes for traffic. What a great community asset that is – that is what the community voted for and wants now! Listen to the majority of the community and do not narrow Beach Road!

I am against the proposed plans to narrow Beach Road as part of the Bay Trail. As a Dingley mum, I love bringing my children to Mentone beach in summer. As it is, it is hard to get a spot on the foreshore side of the beach to park my car and get kids out safely together with all the other paraphernalia that goes with taking kids to the beach. If car parking spots are reduced on Beach Road and we are forced to park up side streets, I am concerned at how very dangerous it will be trying to cross Beach Road to get to the beach. If safe parking is reduced, the amenity of the beaches will be seriously impacted.

I couldn’t believe it when Cr. West made the statement that hardly any of the Beach Road verge parking is utilised in summer! – well, that just said it all and absolutely highlighted the fact that she does not live anywhere near Beach Road beaches!

I oppose any plan to narrow Beach Road that will potentially impact on the safety of my children, myself and the community when going to the Beach Road beaches. Please listen to the majority of the community and do not narrow Beach Road.

Concerned Dingley Mum

I support the Mentone - Mordialloc Bay Trail extension as voted by the community but strongly oppose the narrowing of Beach Road, including proposed loss of car parking. As a bike rider and resident of Beach Road I see daily, the increasing traffic congestion with cars, cyclists, pedestrians, not to mention weekend and summer crowds as something to be addressed not ignored. The proposal to retain low grade vegetation will ultimately compromise the safety and amenity for all users of Beach Road and foreshore reserves. Council needs to stop wasting ratepayers money and build the trail as voted by the community. The proposed trail will not only benefit the local community but will be an asset for greater Melbourne.

Totally opposed to this illogical suggestion ,obviously proposed by those who do not understand the traffic flow in this section of Beach Road.

We totally agree with the MAJORITY of local residence, narrowing Beach Rd is a backward move. Council should act for the MAJORITY - DON"T NARROW BEACH ROAD!!

I am against any proposal to narrow Beach road

I find it incredible that the five councillors wish to proceed against the interests of the local community especially when one considers that their proposal will impact on the safety of all road users and pedestrians at the expense of a minimal loss of vegetation, most of which is unsightly. The existing traffic lanes are 3,4m wide and when one considers that the proposal is to reduce the primary lanes to 3m (the width of a bus) is beyond comprehension. Consider the care taken when driving into a residential garage where door openings are 2,45m wide and road users will then have less than a ruler length either side to accommodate cyclists, etc. As regarding the actual loss of 176 parking spaces this will result in each side street having to accommodate an average of 10 additional cars when lack of parking spaces is already a problem. Please stick with the original proposal!!

I think the main thing here is that the final section of the Bay Trail should be completed. The Bay Trail was designed as a safe off-road path for pedestrians and cyclists. There are however two competing issues - the coastline vegetation and the road users. As with any issue with competing issues, a compromise should be found. In the current proposed plan a compromise was found, with some of the vegetation having to be removed and the width of the roads adjusted to VicRoads standards. In the previous stage of the the Bay Trail, there was no compromise - as much vegetation was removed as was required despite concerned citizens having to take the drastic step to take the Council to VCAT.
The argument that any narrowing of Beach Road will reduce safety is a bit spurious. Once the Bay Trail is completed, the recreational cyclists and pedestrians will be kept off the road. As for the serious cyclists, they are going to take up as much of the road as they take up. By taking the recreational cyclists off the road, the serious cyclists will not deviate as much off the racing line.
As for parking, there are large sections of the foreshore where the parking is informal on the gravel verge. By properly defining parking bays, this will in my opinion keep down the number of poorly parked cars, taking up one and a half spots. Currently most parking and traffic conditions along Beach Road are make-dos and stop-gap measures.
So in summary, the currently proposed Bay Trail should go ahead. Stop the name calling. Stop the threats. Some of us are trying to be adults.

I strongly object to beach road being narrowed to make space for the proposed Bay trail extension between Mentone and Mordialloc

I strongly object to loss of beach road car parking to make space for the proposed Bay trail extension between Mentone and Mordialloc.

Narrowing Beach Rd and reducing Beach Rd car parking for the proposed Bay trail extension will cause traffic issues and parking problems especially in the peak summer period. This area needs more car parking not less