The Diamond Creek Trail currently terminates near the railway substation, where trail users must use a 1.3m wide footpath to reconnect to the Diamond Creek Trail at the Diamond Street.

What we proposed

A new 2.5m-wide shared path for the west side of Main Road, improving the Diamond Creek Trail between Diamond Street and the railway substation on Main Road. Council developed two options with both narrowing Main Road traffic lanes from 4.2m to 3.5m wide:

• Option 1: Construction of a 2.5m-wide shared path that deviates around power poles; and

• Option 2: Construction of a 2.5m-wide shared path with underground power lines.

What we heard

Of the contributions received via Participate Nillumbik, 82.83% supported the No-Pole option

There was strong support for the removal of power poles;

• Support for a wider path for pedestrian/cyclists at this location;
• Concern that the existing footpath is unsafe and improvements are welcome;
• Concern at the safety of option that retains power poles;
• Concern at the removal of paperbarks and the need to narrow traffic lanes onMain Road to accommodate the 2.5m-wide shared path;
• Support for a nature strip between the road and Shared Use Path to provide a separation of path users and the traffic lanes;
• A need to provide additional bike racks in the Eltham Town Centre;
• Include Diamond Creek Trail and Eltham Town Centre directional signage;
• Support for additional cycling facilities into the Eltham Town Centre;
• A need to plan for a longer-term alignment of the path along the Diamond Creek (requiring St Vincent’s private landholdings) or the western side of the railway (requiring VicTrack agreement)
• Concern at the additional cost (approximately $400,000-500,000) to relocate the power lines;
• Concern at the safety of the Diamond Creek Trail on the approach to Main Road,suggestion for sightline improvements;
• Support for green pavement marking at the Diamond Street traffic signals; and
• Suggestion for a footpath connection from the Diamond Creek Trail to the commuter car park on Diamond Street.