Tara Murray
Confusion remains over who will foot the bill for managing a proposed footbridge connecting Brimbank and Moonee Valley.
Brimbank council has called on the state government to help sort out the impasse over the bridge at River Valley Estate in Sunshine North.
The bridge, planned as part of the estate in 2001, will allow residents to cross the Maribyrnong River into Avondale Heights.
But red tape continues to stop work from starting and residents are left wondering ‘when’.
In an email to community advocate John Giraldi, estate developer YourLand, states the bridge build has stalled because Brimbank council, Moonee Valley council and Parks Victoria are not “willing to assume ownership”.
Mr Giraldi said Brimbank residents had been calling out for the bridge.
“We need a lot more bridges to give access to Moonee Valley, Essendon and Moonee Ponds, which can’t be easily accessed by bikes now,” he said.
“They’ve used the bridge to entice people to live in the estate for more than 10 years. We don’t know how long it will be until it’s built.”
The bridge sits across two municipalities, so will require two seperate planning permits.
Brimbank city development director Kelvin Walsh said an agreement between the developer and the council in 2001, stated that the developer, at their cost, would construct a pedestrian bridge across the Maribyrnong River before the completion of stage 7 of the (estate) development.
“Stage 7 is currently under construction,” Mr Walsh said.
“A planning application was lodged with council in August 2019 for half of the bridge.
“Whilst the planning application that council is currently assessing is close to being finalised, there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed such as who will be responsible for the ongoing ownership and maintenance of the bridge.”
He said the council had written to the state government requesting assistance on this issue.
A Moonee Valley council spokesperson said the “developers will be required to address matters raised by Parks Victoria relating to ownership and ongoing maintenance of the bridge in the event a permit is issued.”
Trevor Gielnik, who until recently lived in the estate, said the bridge should have been built years ago.
“No one is prepared to meet and do something about it,” he said.
“The location of the proposed bridge has also been moved multiple times and further pushed along into the new part of the estate.
“The closest bridge is the Medway Golf Club and it’s not the best bridge. This bridge would also allow residents to go to Brimbank Park.”
In a statement to Star Weekly, a YourLand spokesperson said the company “remains committed to delivering this valuable piece of community infrastructure and will continue to work with the responsible authorities to ensure that it is delivered expeditiously.”
Parks Victoria spokesperson said is continuing conversations to facilitate the development of the bridge.
