“A shared, long-term vision” for Racecourse Rd

The City of Melbourne is working alongside the City of Moonee Valley to reimagine Racecourse Rd, with the ambition to “prioritise people” and improve accessibility in the area.

At the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on June 11, councillors unanimously endorsed the Racecourse Road Strategic Improvements Discussion Paper for community consultation.

Subject to approval from the state government, the high-level vision between the council and the City of Moonee Valley seeks to transform the busy arterial road into a destination, as well as a movement corridor for users of all transport modes.

Racecourse Rd is managed by the state government and is the border between the municipalities of Melbourne and Moonee Valley, which respectively oversee the road’s Kensington and Flemington sides.

It is also an important tram route, as well as a part of the Victorian Government’s Strategic Cycling Corridor network.

The discussion paper tabled on June 11 stated that “as Flemington and Kensington grow, we want all of Racecourse Rd to be as safe, welcoming and accessible as possible.”

It draws attention to the importance of redeveloping the road with future developments, local business, public transport, and accessibility in mind, and lays out several “design opportunities” with safety being of primary concern.

“As currently configured, Racecourse Rd is not as safe as it should be,” the discussion paper stated.

The paper proposes that more space should be created for walking and trading activities, roads designed to be safer to cross, side streets made more accessible and that bike lanes be constructed.

The discussion paper also calls for upgrades to the road’s tram infrastructure, given that much of the area’s tram services and tram stops don’t comply with Commonwealth Disability Discrimination laws.

Kensington resident and City of Melbourne Cr Rohan Leppert was vocal in his support of the proposed “strategic improvement” to Racecourse Rd.

“The tram stops are not accessible. Getting on and off those trams is exceptionally difficult, among the most difficult tram networks in Melbourne,” he said.

That is unacceptable for accessibility in our community.

The council noted that any proposed upgrades to Racecourse Rd came with the risk of “competing strategies” or “no strategy at all” due to the number of public land managers which have oversight of the area.

Cr Leppert called for the City of Melbourne, the City of Moonee Valley, Victorian Government and Yarra Trams, to work together and create a plan for the future of Racecourse Rd.

He added that current and future change from new developments on Racecourse Rd also needed to be accounted for, including the council’s Macaulay urban renewal area and the government’s renewal of public housing in the Flemington Estate.

The discussion paper noted the strategic importance of Racecourse Rd in supporting the needs of new and existing residents in Macauley and Kensington. Cr Davydd Griffiths said it was essential that residents had access to the “kind of facilities they deserve”.

Community consultation for the discussion paper closes on July 10, with the council to consider the endorsement of the final plan at a meeting in September. •