Milsons Points residents want Bob Debus to mediate on bike ramp issue

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20 September 2024

By Hannah Wilcox

The Milsons Point Community Group has engaged Premier Chris Minns in a final attempt to halt the construction of the controversial linear bike ramp at Bradfield Park. 

In an email addressed to Minns – along with the Cabinet Office’s Kate Boyd, Transport Minister Jo Haylen, Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray and former PM Tony Abbott copied in – the group called for the elevation of the issue for state consideration. 

It included a request for the aid of the Hon Bob Debus AM, a former Labor politician who served as a cabinet minister both in NSW and federally.

“Mr Debus’ outstanding skills and knowledge have previously been successfully brought to bear on significant projects that, if they had proceeded as originally proposed, would have unwittingly wreaked irreversible damage to national icons, and enduring ridicule to those that were responsible,” the email read.

“His often last-minute involvement has saved cherished nationally renowned places from haphazard and deleterious narrow-focussed works proposed by well meaning public authorities that have, unfortunately, not adhered to the paramount principle of ‘do no harm’.”

It continued: “Putting a hold on this project right now, and applying the precautionary principle, seeking the wise counsel of a trusted statesman such as Hon Bob Debus AM will enable our society to snatch victory from the jaws of self-defeat.”

 Since proposed in 2020, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway has proven unpopular amongst residents with many concerned it will destroy the heritage of the area and remove a chunk of green, open space. 

Correspondence between the group, headed by outgoing North Sydney councillor Ian Mutton and other local residents including Peter Noble, Joan Street and Ian Lloyd, and Ms Haylen has continued over the last few years.

They remain firm in their stance that the community-consulted design is more suitable than TfNSW’s linear bike ramp option – the latter awarded $38.9 million in contract costs in March. 

Construction began last month to convert the southern bowling green grassed area to an all-weather surface and establish the main site compound in Bradfield Park Central, as well as begin a construction compound in Bradfield Park North.