Banyule flats reserve improvement opportunities 1. Banyule Creek Crossing: The gravel path over the crossing has been worn down so that the culvert stones are protruding. This could be replaced with a boardwalk across the creek, which would also have to cater for access by maintenance vehicles (Options 1A and 1B).
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2. Water Course Crossing (southern informal track):
banyule flats shared paths Feasibility Study WE WANT YOUR VIEWS
Background
RATIONALE
Many users of the Main Yarra Trail, pedestrians and cyclists alike, are regularly taking a short cut through Banyule Flats. This is causing considerable damage to the sensitive environment and has created a number of informal tracks due to constant wear and tear. This damage will continue to occur if no action is taken. Banyule Flats provides an obvious short cut as it reduces the distance between Plymouth Street, Heidelberg, Somerset Drive, and Viewbank by approximately 800m.
It is recognised that pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the Banyule Flats Reserve will continue to use these informal paths south of the wetlands and that this area is environmentally sensitive. The informal paths are not only being used by pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the Reserve, but by those using Banyule Flats Reserve for recreational and relaxation purposes. The aim of this study is to provide accessibility for all to enjoy this environmentally sensitive area and to better manage the paths through the Reserve in order to better protect it.
The Main Yarra Trail in this area is circuitous as it winds around the wetlands in the northern section of the Reserve, rather than taking the more direct route south of the wetlands, as many pedestrians and cyclists do currently. These informal paths worn by Banyule Flats users, including pedestrians, cyclists and wetlands and nature enthusiasts, are damaging the surrounding environment.
There is potential to replace the existing culvert with a boardwalk. Again, this boardwalk will have to cater for maintenance vehicle access (Option 3). 3. Informal Paths ‘Intersection’ (south of sports ovals): There is an opportunity to realign the existing ‘intersection’ between the two informal paths to provide improved definition of priority and to allow re-vegetation of the area. (Options 2 & 3).
An approximately 3m wide granitic sand path is provided along Main Yarra Trail. The existing formal section around Banyule Flats Reserve is indirect, resulting in pedestrians and cyclists either travelling an extra 800 metres, or taking a short cut through land directly adjacent to the
environmentally sensitive wetlands. In particular, the granitic sand path is not ideal for commuting cyclists. Several informal paths have been created by regular use and are forming muddy areas within the Reserve.
path OPTIONS and potential realignments 1. Banyule Tennis Club to Banyule Creek Crossing (Refer to map overleaf) There are two alignment options for the upgrade of the informal path in this section. The first alignment (1A) follows the existing informal path, while the second alignment (1B) travels slightly north to avoid lower lying areas that are subject to more frequent flooding.
2. Banyule Creek Crossing to Banyule Flats Sports Ground (alignment of northern informal track) This path travels north before heading east along the southern boundary of the wetlands to re-join the Main Yarra Trail just south of the sports ovals.
This section of path could be constructed with a combination of surfaces, including sections of concrete, boardwalk etc. with planting to reinstate the Reserve where informal paths are no longer required.
to reinstate the reserve where informal paths are no longer required. There is also an opportunity to re-align the north-south section of this path to move it further east, away from the top of the Banyule Creek embankment (2B).
This section of path (2A) could be constructed using a combination of surfaces including concrete, boardwalk etc. with planting 3. Banyule Creek Crossing to Banyule Flats Sports Ground (alignment of southern informal track) This path travels south then east before heading north to re-join the Main Yarra Trail south of the Banyule Flats Reserve sports ovals and provides access to other sections of Banyule Flats Reserve. This section of path could be constructed as a
granitic sand or Castella rock path and planting/re-vegetation could be undertaken to reinstate the Reserve where informal paths are no longer required. Viewing Areas There is an opportunity to create viewing areas over the wetlands and Banyule Creek.
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4. Banyule Creek Waterfall Viewing Area (see VIS01 on map): Council could install a viewing area to the waterfall on Banyule Creek to include a boardwalk style viewing platform with improved fencing and a 2m wide concrete access path.
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5. Banyule Wetlands Viewing Area (see VISO2 on map): There is potential to create a new viewing area at the southern end of the Banyule Wetlands consisting of a boardwalk style viewing platform with the path constructed as a boardwalk.
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6. Banyule Wetlands Viewing Area (see VISO3 on map): There is also potential to upgrade the existing viewing area to the Banyule Wetlands, including a 2m wide granitic sand access path.
Existing Shared Path (Main Yarra Trail)
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discussion of the proposals While the Main Yarra Trail through Banyule Flats Reserve is a well maintained granitic sand path, it is quite circuitous and many cyclists, pedestrians and Reserve users take the alternative informal paths that run more directly through Banyule Flats Reserve south of the wetlands. These paths are also used by maintenance vehicles to access all areas of the Reserve. This use has, over time, worn two paths, one that travels north from the Banyule Creek crossing and one that travels south and then east. The paths are currently in a state of disrepair, with several sections of the path becoming quite muddy during the wet winter months and cracking during summer. When these sections get muddy, alternative routes are used, which further widens the paths. In order to reduce further impact on the Banyule Flats Reserve, there is potential to upgrade the informal paths as described in this information brochure. An upgrade of these paths will provide quality facilities for cyclists, pedestrians, Reserve users and maintenance vehicles, and importantly protect the Reserve. Formalising the paths will enable re-vegetation (where alternative paths have formed) and the upgrade and construction of new viewing areas at the Banyule Creek Waterfall and Banyule Wetlands. The viewing areas would be of a boardwalk-type construction.
The key objectives of this study are to: - Manage the impact of the use of the existing informal paths on the Reserve and prevent more damage from increased use - Provide access to users of all abilities, so everyone can enjoy the Reserve - Create a ‘recreational’ loop path within the Reserve - Provide viewing and interpretive spaces where Reserve users can enjoy the features of the Reserve - Provide more appropriate access for maintenance vehicles.
Banyule Flats – Shared paths feasibility study vis03
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