Lifts on the Albion-to-Sunshine pedestrian bridge are being repeatedly vandalised, with repair bills topping more than $11,000 in the past year.
Parents with prams and people with a disability have been unable to use the HV McKay Bridge, a pedestrian rail overpass that connects the memorial gardens to Devonshire Road, at least once a month – and in some cases for as long as a week – because the lifts have been damaged by vandals.
Brimbank council has revealed the lifts have been vandalised 13 times in the past 12 months, vandals often targeting security cameras.
Brimbank infrastructure and city services director Neil Whiteside said that in the year to April 30, the council had spent more than $8500 repairing the lifts’ mechanics, fixing damaged security cameras, removing graffiti and replacing stolen signage, including signs alerting people that the lifts were out of action.
The clean-up bill didn’t stop there. Mr Whiteside said more than $2300 had also been spent cleaning the lifts of litter.
“This cost is over and above the cost for the pro-active cleaning that is undertaken every week day,” he said.
Nearby resident Neil Head said the lifts were often out of order, leaving people stranded.
“From reporting of breakdown to fix, often takes several days – particularly if a weekend or public holiday is involved,” he told a recent council meeting.
Mayor John Hedditch said that in most cases, repairs were carried out within 24 hours.
He said the lifts were serviced four times a year and had been fitted with backup generators in case of a power outage.
On top of the 13 reported cases of vandalism, the lifts have malfunctioned three times after heavy rainfalls, adding to accessibility issues for people who rely on the lifts to use the footbridge.
