Mounting calls to cease construction on “intrusive” Moore Park bridge

As construction begins on the state government’s Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Bridge across Anzac Parade, more political and community groups have banded together in calling for work to cease on the site.

The $25 million pedestrian walkway and cycleway aims to connect Central station with Moore Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground, positing improved pedestrian and cyclist safety as a major benefit of the project.

NSW parliamentary secretary for Roads and Transport, Ray Williams, described the Moore Park area as “one of Sydney’s key cultural precincts …attracting almost 1.5 million spectators and event patrons and up to 350,000 pedestrian and cyclists annually.”

Roads and Transport Minister Duncan Gay said that because of the area’s popularity, it was more important than ever to go ahead with the bridge’s construction.

“Anyone who attends events at the Sydney Cricket Ground or the Sydney Football Stadium knows well the safety aspects of walking back to the city. It is difficult to get across Anzac Parade, and that is why the Government is building this bridge,” Mr Gay said.

However, both community and parliamentary groups have expressed outrage over the inconsiderate placement and design of the bridge.

There are concerns that as the bridge is being built a block away from Fitzroy Street, the usual pedestrian route to the SCG, it will be underutilised.

Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi has been a strong voice in calling for work on the bridge to stop and for the state government to go back to the drawing board on the proposal.

“Despite widespread condemnation and concerns with the proposed Moore Park Bridge, the government has already begun work on this expensive bridge that doesn’t meet the needs of the community,” Dr Faruqi said.

However, Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust chief executive Jamie Barkley is confident the bridge will satisfy community needs, citing the SCG Trust’s master plan, which aims to make the Moore Park sporting precinct a world-class facility.

“The Tibby Cotter Bridge will be a boon for fans and the broader community, allowing them to cross one of Sydney’s busiest arterial roads safely and easily,” Mr Barkley said.

But City of Sydney Councilor Jenny Green echoed Dr Faruqi’s concerns and expressed outrage over the blithe consideration of 78 community objections to the proposal.

“To have submissions close on April 13, and have these plans ready to start on May 19 clearly indicates that Roads and Maritime Services was merely ticking a box requesting submissions in regard to this proposal,” Cr Green said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore is also critical, stating that “the design of the bridge is highly intrusive with an excessive impact on Moore Park; its assessment does not address cumulate impacts and alternative access options in conjunction with planned light rail; and there are significant concerns that the bridge will not provide an effective pedestrian and cycle link.”

Cr Moore has asked for a collaborative working group between the state government and the City of Sydney council to be established in order to formulate long-term alternatives to pedestrian and cyclist issues.

Despite increased bike patronage across the City of Sydney, the bridge will not link established cycleways, requiring cyclists to cross a set of busy bus lanes before they are able to rejoin the Anzac Parade cycleway.

BIKESydney president David Borella expressed concern over the lack of multi-model integration considered for the Moore Park bridge.

“There are obvious alternatives that serve the interest of all stakeholders including cyclists and pedestrians, such as including a crossing of Anzac Parade for pedestrians and cyclists in the tram tunnel they’re about to build. It doesn’t stack up,” Mr Borella said.

Minister Gay responded to community concerns in Parliament, stating “this bridge has been widely lauded by mainstream communities and the sporting community … This bridge will provide a high-capacity pedestrian link from the city to the events precinct at Moore Park.”

Dr Faruqi has labelled Mr Gay’s comments as “condescending and outrageous”.

“Given the significant opposition to the bridge in its current form, and the complete lack of meaningful consultation, the government must go back to the drawing board and cease work,” Dr Faruqi said in a statement.