Further to my last blog post, I offer the following update on the Mike Turtur Bikeway Overpass for you. It is good news. At the very least it is buying time.
Some of you would be aware in subsequent conversations that I was hoping that we could convince DIT to brief the Council on the project. I indicated to those people that I was hoping it might be as early as this Monday.
I can confirm they have agreed to brief us. It will NOT however be next Monday night. They have indicated that they will be in a position to brief Council in April. We (Council) will try and lock in a date with them in the next few weeks.
This timeline is fine as SCAP will be considering the planning approval at their meeting in early May.
In light of the above, we have advised DIT that the report on granting them a licence will now go to Council in May. There is no point us considering this unless and until the project has received development approval.
Therefore, we will extend the Council’s current consultation for a few more weeks. While we are doing this, I must reinforce that (as this is a DIT project) any submissions concerning the design of the structure be directed to them. That is who must hear it. Submissions to us should be simply around whether or not we grant a licence.
Feedback from DIT indicates that they have received quite a few submissions about the project, and this will require some further thinking on their part. That sounds encouraging.
I’m sorry to say I don’t understand why it matters whether you grant a licence since apparently they can do whatever they want irrespective of it.
For me it’s a disgrace. That’s partly speaking as a pedestrian, since it is the usual ‘solution’ for them. Get them to walk far far further uphill on cement and that’s supposed to be a win. It is seriously suggested as being a way to encourage walking. Presumably suggested by people who have never walked or intend to.
But it’s also a disgrace because although I am all for cyclists getting safe passage and that means separate road with proper distinction from cars, in fact they spend a lot of time asking for things that are no different from car drivers. More cement, chopping down trees, something that will be slightly better than something else in terms of non-stop cycling in the same way car drivers believe they should never have to stop.
I’m mystified and disappointed.
I understand Cathy.
That is Government for you. Particularly Local Government. As I trust I noted in my blog we are required legislatively to do it. In other words, it is mandated by the State Government.
As a small businessman, I was concerned about being overburdened by bureaucracy. I now know that was nothing. Councils are burdened like no other.
Great point, so well said Cathy!
The current design is an excessive encroachment on the park. So until DIT revises its plan so that it is acceptable to the local community, Council must not grant a licence. It’s as simple as that.
Well said Bob and regardless of whether the Council regards itself as responsible, the community is looking to it for leadership on this and will blame Council if it goes ahead in its present form. It is a disgrace. Don’t forget meeting this Sunday at 2pm in the Reserve. Joanne
So true Joanne. Some will. Some already are. It happens often.
Expecting Council to have the power to stop these projects and then blaming them when the project proceeds anyway does not however achieve anything. The only TRUE way to have something like this stopped is through your local State member and/or the Minister for Transport. They have the voice with DIT & the Government that Councils never will.
In this case you have two local members to lobby. Jayne Stinson (Badcoe) representing the opposition and David Pisoni (Unley) representing the Government. The latter being a Minister, to boot. Even better, given we are in an election campaign, you have two more (from their respective parties) plus other candidates hoping to take their place.
So, while I have encouraged you to respond to Council’s survey, please, please make sure you lobby those who have the influence.
See you Sunday.
I suppose election time might be different, but when I wrote to David Pisoni to say that Unley Rd is highly unfriendly to pedestrians, that the car speed should be substantially lower and that there should be a pedestrian crossing in front of his office or thereabouts, I got no reply. Not even a remonstration for crossing Unley Road in a way which was likely to end in death. Because pedestrians don’t count, whatever is done to the road system here, pedestrians are collateral damage. Cyclists would do well to keep that in mind. At least the conversation is continually happening about cycling. As long as both car drivers and cyclists believe that non-stop traffic flow is the way to go, pedestrians will be the victims.
As for influencing politicians, they will be monitoring this space and such public conversation will be making them uncomfortable, right at this time. We can probably safely assume that once the election is over, it will be business as usual.
Well said Cathy.
Quite frankly I’m just going 2 say it we need a stronger support at the local level than what we have now,this project should never hav got this far.