South Kyneton residents are calling for pedestrian and vehicle access improvements to be prioritised.
Residents are seeking a safe pedestrian path to Kyneton Train Station and vehicle bridge over the Campaspe River from Edgecombe Street.
Developer, Kyneton on Riverside, is leading a petition for the projects to be prioritised and has already gained hundreds of signatures in support.
“Both projects are essential, especially as South Kyneton continues to grow,” spokesperson Rick Lander said.
“The petition has already gathered widespread support. It has been an overwhelming response just three weeks in.
“These are not just infrastructure upgrades, they are essential steps toward creating a safer, more accessible and more walkable future for everyone in our community. Let’s show key decision-makers that this vision matters and we’re not giving up.”
To address pedestrian access, the petition calls for a 1.5-metre wide footpath from the end of Mollison Street to the train station.
“A proposal from the Kyneton on Riverside development has sat unresolved for nearly a decade, dismissed by VicTrack with no alternative. It’s time to get this built,” Mr Lander said.
The petition also calls for a vehicle bridge over the Campaspe River from Edgecombe Street to provide a second entry point for the area and improve traffic flow.
“All southbound traffic is funnelled through Mollison Street causing congestion, safety issues and added pressure on the town centre,” Mr Lander said.
“The proposed bridge would connect Edgecombe Street to High Street, creating a much-needed second entry and exit for the area. It would also provide a critical link to the school precinct on High Street and help ease traffic well into the future.”
Kyneton on Riverside acknowledged that Macedon Ranges Shire Council had already identified the two projects priorities in its long-terming planning for the town but had budgetary constraints and relied on external funding to deliver the works.
COUNCIL ON BOARD
MRSC’s director of assets and operations, Dom Testoni, said the projects had been under consideration for several years.
“Council has worked with the developer in advocating to both VicTrack and V/Line to unlock a parcel of land to assist in the delivery of a proposed pedestrian path from the existing Kyneton South area to the train station, but this has been unsuccessful to date,” he said.
“A second bridge is also identified as a key opportunity in the Kyneton Movement and Network Plan with a range of other key projects identified to proceed post construction.
“A concept design has been completed and developer contributions have been secured through a Section 173 Agreement to partially fund the bridge.”
Mr Testoni said the bridge project was considered a medium-to-long-term infrastructure priority, triggered when traffic volumes exceeded the current road network’s capacity. It is estimated to cost about $12.7 million.
“There is no confirmed timeframe for construction at this stage, as delivery is dependent on the progress of development in the area and securing the remaining funding from other levels of government,” he said.
“Key challenges to delivering the bridge include securing the balance of required funding and ensuring delivery aligns with development staging and traffic demands, as well as minimising environmental impacts related to the bridge crossing.
“Council continues to advocate for external support to help deliver the project in the future. In the meantime, development in Kyneton South continues to be staged in line with infrastructure capacity, and local intersection upgrades. This includes traffic signals at Campaspe Drive and Mollison Street, which have already been approved and will support future growth. These developer works are expected to be completed in late 2025.”
VicTrack and V/Line were contacted for comment but did not respond before going to press.
The petition can be accessed online, via: southkyneton.com.au/petition
