MEMBERS of the Avondale Heights and East Keilor Residents Association will oppose plans to construct a traffic bridge over the Maribyrnong River.
In December, the Weekly reported a plan by Maribyrnong Council to extend Braybrook’s Ashley Street with a bridge joining Avondale Heights.
The plan was part of that council’s long-term transport strategy.
In 2009, VicRoads and the Department of Infrastructure reviewed the Maribyrnong River bridge overlays on the Moonee Valley planning scheme.
Three of the four overlays were removed, leaving just one for a future Maribyrnong River crossing between Ashley Street in Braybrook and Canning Street, Avondale Heights.
Residents Association president Frank DiBlasi said association members made it
clear they would strongly oppose a second
Maribyrnong River crossing passing through Avondale Heights.
“We fear a significant increase in traffic flow through our normally quiet residential suburban streets of Avondale Heights and East Keilor.
“We feel that such a new bridge will worsen the already heavy traffic congestion passing into and through Moonee Valley.
“Such a development will not only reduce the quality of life of all of us but will inevitably affect property values of areas of Avondale Heights, East Keilor and as a consequence Moonee Valley.”
Mr DiBlasi said he hoped the association would work with Friends of the Maribyrnong to lobby against any plan considering the environmental degradation a new bridge could cause.
The association would also seek a meeting with new Niddrie MP Ben Carroll.
Moonee Valley Council has opposed any plan for an Ashley Street extension.
Maribyrnong mayor John Cumming said the VicRoads proposal for an Ashley Street extension was one of many options the council was considering to improve accessibility, and it welcomed community feedback.
