Roads Minister Tim Pallas will be doing the honours at the forthcoming re-opening of the footbridge at East Malvern Station. The bridge had to be dismantled and re-built as a result of the Monash Freeway widening and its lack has been sorely felt by both cyclists and pedestrians. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 10.45am this coming Thursday, 20^th August.

It would be good to have a strong cyclist presence at the opening to demonstrate to the minister how important this link in the off-road network is. It connects Scotchmans Creek Trail and the Urban Forest trail to the very popular lower Gardiners Creek Path.

Boroondara BUG have been advocating for another link at this location – a path alongside the Freeway between the bridge and Argylle St. This would provide yet another option for cyclists coming from the east and wanting to connect up with the lower Gardiners Creek Path. We believe that it would provide an attractive alternative to the many cyclists who currently cut through the golf course rather than use other much more circuitous routes, hence our working title of ‘Golfers’ Choice Path’. There is currently a vehicle track in the location of the proposed path so its construction should not be too difficult.

Julia Blunden