BHRRT: Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail Project
our log of actions
January 2012
Our Committee has received its letter of invitation to join the Planning Working Group for the BHRRT set up by the Department of Transport. We will be sending our reps to the February 2012 meeting.
December 2011
Our response to the Parsons Brinckerhoff study for the feasability of the trail has been delivered to the City of Whitehorse, to politicians and other interested groups. It is available for download. Whitehorse Cyclists Advocancy group response to Parsons Brinckerhoff report 3MB pdf 14 pages.
November 2011
BHRRT preparation of response to the Parsons Brinckerhoff study delivered in October - study was commissioned by the City of Whitehorse for the Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail. That PB study is available via a link from our documents page
July 2011
Cyclists benefit local businesses
Two members of our group went to the Rail Trails meeting at Darebin BUG onJuly 21. The guest speaker, Dr Sue Beeton, Associate Professor of Tourism at LaTrobe University, told us of the great economic benefits of the Murray to Mountains rail trail she has studied since 2003.Her studies show that cyclists spend more than the average tourist. The trail runs from Wangaratta to Myrtleford and to Bright and Beechworth
June 2011
Meeting with Forest Hill MP
Two of our advocacy group members met with Neil Angus MP, state member for Forest Hill at his electorate office on 17 June. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce WCI and its various activities, brief him on BHRRT and the importance of grade separations at Rooks, Mitcham, and Heatherdale Roads,and outline our general advocacy activitiies. We expressed our concern at the lack of progress in the negotiations regarding the Pipetrack which bisects the electorate on a NE to SW axis. We also expressed our interest in the Healesville Freeway land which could provide a good East/West shared path. Finally we enquired about the relevance of the previous government's strategies including, the Victorian Cycling Strategy, The Victorian Transport Plan, The review of the Principle Bicycle Network and also the Central Activity Districts.
On 16th June our advocacy group members met a Leader Press photographer near the Blackburn Library for a photoshoot connected to an article in the Whitehorse Leader
May 2011
April 2011
Submission to Whitehorse Council in reponse to draft Whitehorse Integrated Transport Strategy. Our submission stressed that for cycling to become integrated into the tranport system, the Whitehorse Cycling Strategy 2007 including the rail trail needs to be implemented.(April 24 2011)
Handover of BHRRT petition featured in Whitehorse Leader article Link to article
March 2011
On Thursday 31 March the annual presentation of the Whitehorse Sustainability Awards was held at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre. Whitehorse Cyclists Advocacy Group was very pleased to receive the 2011 Whitehorse Sustainable Community Leadership Award for Advocacy. Our submission shows that that in 2016, there will be 634 riders per day on the Box Hill Ringwood Rail Trail riding 1159,000 kms annually. This will save 93,000 litres per annum of fuel and 405 tonnes of CO2 emissions. There will also be significant health benefits.
Our petition of over 3000 signatures was handed over to Dee Ryall the Member of Parliament for there will be Mitcham who presented it to the Victorian House of Assembly. The petition handover occasion provided good publicity at a bike ride with a photographer present. 29 March.View the press release 31 March 2011 of MP for Mitcham, Dee Ryall supporting the project and the promise of $5 million dollars to start the work.(pdf file 1 page 53 kb)
School Presentation Three of our group went to St John's Mitcham to visit the grades 5 and 6. We helped them with their persuasive writing task by telling them how we are going about persuading politicians and other people to support the trail. 28 March.
Presentation to Victorian Bicycle Advisory Council 10 March
Kiosk and petition at Box Hill Railway station mall 4 March
In the Cycle newsletter edition 2 issued to local schools
February 2011
Display of BHRRT project at local library.
Attendance at MS Summer Cycle event 20 February to collect signatures for petition.
Presentation of the BHRRT project to Department of Transport: 17 February
Display of BHRRT project and petition at Box Hill TAFE Orientation Day Elgar Campus 16 February
Presentation to Mayor Ben Stennett and Councillor Pemberton of City of Whitehorse 16 February
Presentation of the BHRRT project to staff at VicRoads: Wednesday 2 February
Display board for the trail project at the Blackburn Library for February.
January 2011
Display board for the trail project at the Box Hill Library all January
Bike shops assigned to team members for distribution of flyers and petition forms
December 2010
Six BHRRT team members collected 840 signatures on our petition at Great Vic Bike Ride: Eildon on 4 December
Investigating parking situation at Nunawading Station: problem with proposed changes by VicRoads may affect our trail alignment.
November 2010
Radio interview on Whitehorse FM 94.1 on Mike McNamara's program Bricks and Mortar re BHRRT 20 November
Presentation to Maroondah Council. 15 November 2010
BHRRT pamphlets and petition forms rolled out to area bike shops. BHRRT members rostered to do pickups and replenishments
BHRRT team members collected 600 signatures on our petition after the Hanover ConnectEast bike event.Eastlink area 14 November
BHRRT members interview each Mitcham candidate for Victorian elections and obtain statements from Liberals, Labor and Greens regarding the trail
19 schools in the area of the trail visited by BHRRT team member to update them on BHRRT. Newsletter for schools set up and first edition sent out.
October 2010
Permanent BHRRT display of banners and information in Blackburn at Heath St at the end of the Gardiners Creek Trail, and at Laburnum Street on the route of the BHRRT.
Meeting with Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin and CEO Frank Dixon
September 2010
Presentation to City of Whitehorse Bicycle Advisory Committee on BHRRT Sept 22 2010.
Presentation re BHRRT to special meeting of City of Whitehorse Council Sept 13 2010.
August 2010
Whitehorse Cyclists Advocacy Group launched their BHRRT Feasibility Study at City of Whitehorse offices. The study was presented by the Federal MP Mike Symon. It was attended by invitees from all levels of government and interested parties. 2 August 2010.