The Andrews Labor Government is planning for the future of Melbourne’s active transport network, with a new planning study set to examine how to improve connectivity and safety on two of the city’s busiest bike and pedestrian paths.

State Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, joined Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt and Friends of the Merri Creek committee member Dr Peter Ewer today to announce a $1.2 million investment which will allow the development of plans for cycling facilities for the Capital City Trail and Merri Creek Trail Strategic Cycling Corridor.

The plans will examine a range of potential improvements for the trails, including addressing critical missing connections in the network, improving access, and boosting safety.

Among the options set to be assessed are the construction of a raised path from the Merri Creek Trail at river level up to the Capital City Trail at road level and a new shared path bridge over the Merri Creek at High Street.

In consultation with the community, experts will spend the next three years developing a variety of options to further improve the trails, with these recommendations set to be subject to future funding considerations.

The two trails form one of the city’s busiest active transport corridors, linking Southbank with a range of city hotspots, including the Victorian Arts Centre, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the MCG and Melbourne Zoo, as well as functioning as a key connection between the CBD and the northern suburbs.

Both trails cater to hundreds of users a day, including a diverse mix of commuter cyclists, recreational riders, walkers and joggers.

The study is all part of a continued investment in developing a better-connected, safer active transport network, encouraging more Victorians to complete short trips by bike or on foot.

 Since 2019, the Labor Government has invested over $100 million into the planning and delivery of a range of active transport initiatives across the state including the recent investment of $21.8 million as part of the 2022/23 Victorian Budget.

Under the budget, 14 individual projects and initiatives received funding, improving safety and connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians right around Victoria.

The projects funded include the development and planning of new cycling corridors, safer pedestrian connections, and secure bicycle parking at train stations.

Quote attributable to Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous

“The inner north is blessed with beautiful waterways and trails. Encouraging more people to use them reduces the number of cars on our roads, improves our collective health and connects our community.” 

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Sheena Watt

“We’re looking at ways to make these trails safer and better connected for the people who use them to get to work, head to school or university, or simply see some of the city’s most popular sights.”

Quote attributable to Prof. Nicholas Williams, President, Friends of Merri Creek

“A continuous, high quality shared path from Wallan to Dights Falls is a key goal of the Friends of Merri Creek. This welcome commitment will deliver a well-planned solution that allows the separate movement of both people and wildlife through this very special, but constricted part of the creek corridor.”