State takes over Green Spine but no progress yet

THE Green Spine project is now officially the state government’s responsibility, but little progress appears to have been made six months later.
The first section of the central Geelong project to create a linear park from Johnstone Park to Eastern Park opened last year, with the extensive redevelopment including a eight metre-wide botanic walk on the south side of Malop Street, more trees and plantings on the north side, separated bike lanes on each side and a complete rebuilding of the roadway.
The works led to several complaints about traffic congestion, and in early March, the City of Greater Geelong council resolved, by a single vote, to make several modifications to the project, including removing a separated bike lane on the north side of the Green Spine, reinstating right-turn lanes on the east approach to Moorabool Street and the west approach, and the installation of more two-hour on-street car parks.
The state government – which contributed $8 million to the initiative – criticised the council for its intentions to alter the first section and made good on its threat to take over in late March, with Minister for Roads Jaala Pulford writing to the council to direct them not to undertake any works that are not in line with the Green Spine project.
Using Victoria’s Road Management Act, the state government signalled it would declare the Mercer Street, Malop Street and Garden Street corridor a Designated Road Project under state control, and this was officially done on August 25.
“This project is all about the securing economic success of our city,” Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said on August 24.
“We’re making sure Geelong locals get the Green Spine project they were promised and that they deserve.
“A state government media release at the time stated the Department of Transport would continue to work closely with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Regional Development Victoria and City of Greater Geelong as part of the Revitalising Central Geelong partnership to ensure the delivery of the Green Spine project.
“The priority now will be on the delivery of the next funded stages of the project, the timelines for which are being finalised.”
This week, in response to questions from this newspaper, a spokesperson for Ms Neville said further details about firm timelines for the project were being sought.