Kingston's Bay Trail

I do not agree with the new proposal put forward by council to narrow the lanes on Beach Rd. As a resident of South Ward, I use this road regularly and see how congested parts of it become in Summer and at school pick up and drop off times. The safety of our community will be compromised with buses and cars having less room to manoeuvre around the 'more serious' bike riders, who will not use this trail, (1 m gap between cars and bikes) and the cars trying to park in the fewer car spaces which will be provided. The original design put forward in September last year should stand as safety is far more important than a few replaceable shrubs.

Do not narrow beach rd! This is a terrible idea putting cyclists and drivers at risk. Recently there was a terrible accident on Beach rd where it had been narrowed. Beach Rd is an alternative route into the city behind the Nepean Hwy for those living in the Bayside suburbs. It is ideology gone made. Compensate the small amount of plants being removed by building up other areas.

Please don't narrow beach road.
Please listen to the concerns of so many Kingston residents ( who you are meant to represent) .
I would rather not have a bay trail at all than see Beach Rd narrowed.
Just leave it as it is

PLEASE DO NOT NARROW BEACH ROAD (is that clear enough)?? As someone who used to use this road everyday I can't imagine why any clear thinking individual would think it is a good idea to narrow it, It is hard enough as it is with cyclists. Why would you change something that has previously been agreed upon without proper consultation??. Don't forget who votes you into office...

As a long time resident and rate payer I am appalled at the backflip. We were consulted and agreed to a proposal. That was hijacked by a select few and is simply not good enough., I will certainly be utilising my vote to reflect my disgust at those 5 councillors and I hope that all other ratepayers do the same. You were given the community's trust and you have broken it, we will not forgive you!

As a regular user of this section of Beach Rd at all times of day, I am against any narrowing of the road or loss of parking spaces. Cyclists claim at least a whole lane already early on weekday mornings and across the weekend. It is already difficult to navigate around them. Narrrowing the road will increase risk for both cyclists and motorists.
Parking is at a premium during warm weather especially and decreased spaces will lead to increased pedestrian risk, loss of amenity for local residents (as cars move further into surrounding streets), and frustration for motorists trying to access our beautiful beaches.
I'm happy to have the trail extended and the 'missing link' completed, but not at the expense of road and parking spaces.

The narrowing of Beach Road by up to a metre (I don't care that it's small section, it's still a metre) is not what I supported. You are disregarding cyclist safety on the roads, and imposing less parking. BAD move Kingston council. My displeasure will be expressed at the next council election. You have shown arrogant disregard for residents. Just for the record I am not a tree hater, and I do not have a bay view and I cannot believe the petty accusations (such as these), directed at residents such as myself. Stick to the original plan and stop holding this process up!

I think this idea is absolutely ridiculous!! DO NOT narrow Beach Road! It is already a nightmare with the combination of bike riders and cars, and narrowing the road will only increase the danger and frustration for both bikes and cars.

Narrowing beach road and losing car spaces is ludicrous, as well as dangerous. Please stop wasting ratepayers time and money, and get on with implementing the bay trail that fitted the needs of the community as per previous consultation.

Please do not narrow the road. If anything consider increasing it. I drive and occasionally ride (push bike) that section of road. I my mind making it narrower only makes it more dangerous. Reducing the number of car parking spaces would suggest increased traffic and parking in the surrounding streets.

The Bay Trail design, as outlined in council minutes 27/3/17, is a sound proposal. Uniform design and formed kerbs on both sides of the road will make Beach Rd a lot safer for all road users. The current informal parking arrangements, along with some of the deteriorated sections of the shoulder, can be dangerous at times. I also support the decision to minimise vegetation loss. Just having the pedestrian/cycle trail built will result in the loss of a significant amount of vegetation. Considering the beach reserve is one of Kingston's most loved assets, it's important to conserve as much of its character as possible.

Removed by moderator.

Beach Road should not be narrowed to put in the Bayside Trail right alongside. Narrowing Beach Road will increase incidents with bikes and when cars collide - where could they end up - on the Bayside Trail. Just crazy considering narrowing a main thoroughfare to 3m per lane. The Bayside Trail should be well behind the curb, not alongside the road. The previous plan already approved by council should be the plan that is implemented, not this revision. It might work in Bayside but that's all along the cliffs, not where there is a beach.

I will not be dictated to and told I need to narrow Beach Rd. The original Bay Trail that the community voted for in September 2016 by 82% was perfect. To narrow Beach Rd for the sake of saving 0.15 hectares of low quality vegetation is absurd.

Come on now, i don't want to put a pin on it I just want the bay trail agreed to in September 2016 and NOT narrow Beach road. It is time to put the community above politics and get on with it.

I believe narrowing Beach Rd is not the best option for the trail or the residents of Mordialloc to Mentone. I have concerns for road users safety both cyclists and drivers if the road is made narrower. One lane during weekend traffic is not enough space and would cause massive congestion. As a resident of Kingston who is not within walking distance to the beach I think less car parking is a terrible idea. I would be more likely to use the trail (as a female running on my own) if there was less vegetation concealing the path.

I am against any move to narrow beach road. I believe that the council should revert to the plan for the Bay Trail that was approved in September 2016 after much community consultation. The present plan from council for the Bay Trail is not acceptable. There is no need to narrow beach road. The over whelming community support was for the plan agreed to in September not the plan put forward by Councillors West. Eden, Oxley,Barth, and Staikos. Most residents of Kingston do not support any plan the involves any narrowing of beach road

I am very interested why the original proposal (previously approved by council) is no longer being considered.

This was previously approved by council only for now a new option being proposed.

i would have thought the Kingston council officers had been very thorough with their initial proposal assessment only for now a new option to be considered. Why is this now not a viable option ??? What was wrong with this assessment ???

Seems like a waste of time and money to keep delaying this previously approved project.

i smell a rat (from the foreshore natives) with the community being blindsided... by an agenda from council...

The community agreed to the original proposal... now there is general community disagreement...

Real answers please..

What else will now be reassessed ???

Beach Road is already a very busy road and any narrowing will only increase congestion and increase danger when bikes and cars will share the one lane available when cars are parked along the side of the road. We cannot afford to push any traffic on the already congested Nepean Highway, White Street, Boundary Road and Wells Road. The previous plan adequately addressed the need for the completion of the Bay Trail without the need to narrow Beach Road and remove valued car parking.

I believe that the bay trail will be a benefit to the Kingston community as long as it does not result in reducing Beach Road to additional section of single lane each direction. If it is planned to recduce Beach Road to a single lane in each direction, I see major problems with traffic and the weekend cycling groups of 10, 20, 30 cyclists travelling at 20 - 40 KPH "mixing it" with cars, SUVs, 4WDs, vans and small trucks travelling at 60 KPH.