West Footscray is a suburb cut in two.
While mostly associated with the area around the Barkly Street Village, West Footscray also includes an area on the southern side of the railway tracks between Sunshine Road and the Princes Highway.
It’s in this triangle shaped pocket of West Footscray, or South West Footscray as the locals call it, that Jo Skladzien has lived in for 15 years.
“I kind of joke that in South West Footscray, we’re kind of this forgotten little triangle, kind of like the Tasmania of the west,” said Ms Skladzien before quickly correcting herself.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with Tassie.”
Being separated from the rest of West Footscray by the Tottenham rail yards and train tracks for the Sunbury line, the Regional Rail Link and various freight lines has meant Ms Skladzien spends more time in Kingsville, Seddon and Yarraville than the suburb in which she officially lives.
“I’ve been to West Footscray Library probably three times,” she said.
“It’s just not accessible.”
The footbridge at West Footscray station is the only pedestrian link between the southern and northern sides of the suburb, with Ms Skladzien saying that even driving between the two is difficult.
But with the Sunshine rail hub on the way and a housing activity centre mooted for the area around West Footscray station, Ms Skladzien and some of her neighbours have launched a bid to finally bridge the divide. Literally.
Under the banner of WeFo United, a group of locals from both sides of the tracks have launched a petition calling on the state government and Maribyrnong council to build a pedestrian bridge over the rail lines and connect West Footscray for good.
The bridge would connect Roberts Street in the south to Barkley Village in the north and improve access to local businesses, recreational facilities like RecWest and Hansen Reserve, West Footscray library and provide a safer option for children walking or riding to school.
The petition launched on July 7 and has already attracted nearly 400 signatures, with Ms Skladzien hoping for at least a thousand.
Maribyrnong Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari said a pedestrian bridge over the corridor would involve complex planning and the use of rail land, which requires coordination with multiple state and federal government stakeholders.
“Council understands the concerns raised about safety, connectivity, and access, particularly as they relate to the physical separation caused by the existing freight and passenger rail lines in West Footscray,” he said.
“As part of the current review of Maribyrnong’s Integrated Transport Strategy, council is examining transport network development options for all users, including public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, freight, and general traffic. These considerations are being made in alignment with the state government’s long-term planning priorities.”
The state government was contacted for comment.
