Tara Murray
Brimbank council and local residents are calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built over the Maribyrnong River to improve access to Brimbank Park.
Councillor Virginia Tachos raised a notice of motion at a recent council meeting calling for alternative access points for people who are on foot.
She said that when it rained, the existing ford crossings become submerged, meaning the park can’t be accessed on foot.
“This issue has been raised a number of times with Parks Victoria but unfortunately no funding has been allocated to resolve this access issue,“ Cr Tachos said.
“Imagine if residents could access Brimbank Park whenever they wanted, the café business would have more activity, residents could use the park more, and people could walk and ride along the Maribyrnong River as far as they wanted, even into the city and back.”
Resident Neil Hunichen, who is a keen cyclist, said the park not being accessible impacted people’s mental health, especially during lockdown.
“There needs to be a pedestrian bridge, to allow that safer access,“ he said.
Parks Victoria district manager Craig Bray said they were aware of community feedback regarding access points across the Maribyrnong River.
“Approximately 600,000 people visit and enjoy Brimbank Park annually and, where water levels rise, pedestrian access can be restricted for safety reasons for an average 20 to 30 days per year.
“The park can be accessed by vehicle on these days and visitors are advised to observe signage and stay out of fenced-off areas.”
