EXTENDING Ashley Street across the Maribyrnong River into Avondale Heights has proved a bridge too far for some, but the plan won’t be scrapped any time soon.
Maribyrnong Council approved its Maribyrnong Integrated Transport Strategy and the Northern Maribyrnong Integrated Transport Strategy, which were both put out for public comment last year. Both plans address transport needs in the municipality – ranging from public transport to freight movement, roads and cycling – and continuing population pressures.
A recent state government report predicted Maribyrnong’s population will grow from 74,000, recorded at June 30 last year, to more than 105,000 in 2031.
The northern plan was more contentious, with growing pains already creating traffic problems in a suburb that is more car-dependant than other parts of the municipality.
A further 3000 homes will be built at the Maribyrnong Defence site some time after 2014, and a $300million expansion of Highpoint shopping centre is under way.
The plan includes backing for a long-standing VicRoads proposal to extend Ashley Street across the Maribyrnong River.
The idea was opposed in 15 submissions from residents outside the municipality and in a submission from Moonee Valley council.
It would cut a swathe through Medway golf course. Club manager Philip Carlton said the plan would have a significant impact on the club, potentially making it unviable to continue there.
“We’d prefer it didn’t happen,” Mr Carlton said. “We’d have to assess how significant the impact would be on the club.”
The club, started in 1935, has about 900 members and regularly hosts functions including those arranged by community groups.
Recommendations to realign the tram line along Rosamond Road and the creation of a central tram and bus interchange within the heart of Highpoint shopping centre were retained.
The council acknowledged that many of the ideas such as expansion of the tram network, upgrades to public transport services, intersection improvements and tram priority measures were in the hands of the state government.
“For the city to accommodate its share of metropolitan growth, it requires the necessary infrastructure funding to support that growth or be hamstrung in meeting any housing targets within this area,” the council report accompanying the transport strategy stated.
The council will produce a further report with details on how the recommendations in the plans will be implemented.
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said the state government was preparing the new Metropolitan Planning Strategy. “Proposals for further improvements to the road network in Maribyrnong, including crossing of the Maribyrnong River at Ashley Street, through to Avondale Heights, will be considered in this context.”
