Friends of Willsmere Park & Kew Billabong Inc. do support all parties to locate an alternate cycling and PEDESTRIAN bridge link over the Yarra and recognise its best location is at Alphington Park which is just upstream from the Chandler Highway bridge which is opposite the Guide Dog Centre at Chandler Park which connects directly to the Main Yarra Trail. We do not support any plans to locate the bridge and associated path through Wilslmere Park at any location.
It is well known that the Darebin Bicycle Users Group and Bicycle Victoria are spending $1000's of their members funds with websites and huge full color maps posted widely to promote their views. It is a shame that the material on the website www. darebinbridge. com.au is not balanced and does not include all points of view.
Willsmere-Chandler Parks are located along the northernmost edge of the City of Boroondara. The area encompasses approximately 23ha of land that is bounded by the Yarra River to the north, the Eastern Freeway to the south, Yarra Bend Park and Chandler Highway to the west, and residential properties and Green Acres Golf Club to the east.
Willsmere-Chandler Park forms a critical link in the flora and fauna corridor of the Middle Yarra River and, along with Yarra Bend Park and other Yarra River open space frontages, represents one of Boroondara’s most significant natural heritage assets.
Council has recognised the significance of the existing environment and its future potential, through the development and adoption of a management plan to strategically preserve and enhance these natural values.
Balancing public use with environmental issues the plan proposes changes to maintenance procedures, public use and access for long-term benefits to the environment and for the community.
The two billabongs of Willsmere-Chandler form an integral part of the Yarra River’s floodplain, and contribute to maintaining the ecological "health" of the river system. They also represent the last remaining billabongs within the lower reaches of the Yarra River System.
Usage includes picnicing and open space enjoyment in a natural setting of bush trails and riverside, cycling along the Main Yarra Trail, birdwatching around billabongs and sports at Willsmere Oval. Public toilets are open between dawn and dusk. Created: 8 March 2005 Last Update: 3 May 2006
The Mayor of Boroondara and Council no longer support the bridge at that location and are encouraging Darebin Bug to seek an alternative location. http://boroondara.mylithio.com/leisure/parksandgardens/popularparks/willsmerechandlerpark/manageplan/letter Open space is important for our well being let alone for the native animals residing in them and having a park SPLIT into two with a cycle path seeing 1000's of commuter cyclists every week will devastate the park, its environment, let alone the tranquility. This need not be if the Darebin Bicycle Users Group who are promoting this project accept an alternative location through their own Alphington Park opposite the Guide Dog centre (Chandler Park) would achieve exactly the same outcome connecting people from the North to the Main Yarra Trail.
More of a concern is that the cyclists have seriously degraded the land along the Main Yarra trail in Elm Grove, Willsmere Park, the freeway embankment both at Willsmere Park and further along the Yarra River with their own un-sanctioned tracks. This has even extended to serious damage within the Yarra Bend National Park where cyclists have torn down barriers erected by Park Rangers to stop soil erosion.
One of the most disturbing aspects of a cycling link through Willsmere Park is that the undulating land will be come a mass of tracks and consequently the land will become degraded; the land will become one huge BMX park. How do I know this? Simply walk along the bitumen path along the oval at Willsmere park and look up at the track running parallel to the freeway the cyclists have created as a challenge to test their skills off road. They have not only created a track but over time this has widened and damaged more of the land. This damaging track has continued along the freeway opposite the Billabong. (see attached few photos).
This issue is of immense importance to the people who use Willsmere Park (both Boroondara citizens and those from adjoining suburbs including those from Darebin and Banyule) and it is important an alternative location be found for the bridge (of which there are multiple viable options despite the BV website).
Finally, our group have a letter from the State Government (24th May 2007) which concurs with the City of Boroondara and that letter in effect says the bridge will not be located at Willsmere Park.
