Maribyrnong council has rejected claims it spends barely half of what it should on cycling infrastructure and is falling well behind neighbouring councils.
Bicycle Network’s 2016 Bicycle Expenditure Index (BiXE) says Maribyrnong is among the lowest-spending councils in Australia, at just $2.56 per person.
This compares to $10.25 per person in Moonee Valley and $13.32 in Melbourne.
But the council has defended its record, claiming the advocacy group’s index has historically failed to include its full expenditure.
Director of infrastructure services Sunil Bhalla said the council could not comment on the $2.56 BiXE figure as it was unaware of how the calculation was done.
He said Bicycle Network’s 2012 finding that Maribyrnong spent less per head of population than any other council in Melbourne, at just 91 cents, was inaccurate.
He said the council had committed about $3.94 per person per year in the previous three financial years, as well as sourcing state and federal funding that took the figure closer to $30.
“Council has maintained a high level of funding for cycling initiatives since then, with $1.05 million in the 2014-15 budget, more than $12 per resident,” he said.
“It’s also worth noting that council has put considerable funding into upgrading local roads and footpaths in recent years, with priority given to the on-road bike route network.”
Mr Bhalla said total spending on footpath and cycleways in 2016-17 would be $4.6 million, including on-road bicycle network improvements as well as $175,000 in the budget to upgrade the network and $350,000 to extend the Maribyrnong River Trail.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said she was disappointed by the apparent shortfall in spending, especially on safe on-road cycling.
“There are many bike lane black holes in Maribyrnong, which put cyclists at risk, yet the council is investing very little,” she said.
“Maribyrnong is so close to the city and so many entertainment areas. It should be a cyclist’s dream. Instead, the lack of bike lanes makes it really unsafe and discourages riders.”
She said the west needed to catch up with the inner north and east to create a less congested, healthier and more efficient transport system.
Mr Bhalla said the council would continue to push VicRoads and the state government for improvements to the bicycle network.
