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21 JULY, 2026
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Pathway progress A long-awaited clean-up of the Vineyard Road overpass connecting Diggers Rest and Sunbury has been welcomed by residents, but community advocates believe the work should mark the beginning of a regular maintenance program rather than a one-off response. The shared user path, which runs alongside the busy Vineyard Road bridge over the Calder Freeway, provides a key active transport link for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between neighbouring communities across the Melton and Hume municipalities. Residents were recently given reason to celebrate after accumulated debris, gravel, and overgrown vegetation were removed from the path following sustained community advocacy. However, campaigners are now calling on the relevant authorities to establish an ongoing maintenance schedule to ensure the route remains safe year-round. Long-time Diggers Rest resident David O’Connor, who has advocated for improvements to the busy corridor for more than a decade, said campaigning had evolved from securing the pathway’s construction to ensuring it remained safe for everyday users. While welcoming the pathway’s completion, Mr O’Connor said ongoing maintenance had become a significant safety concern. “While the shared pathway has provided an essential active transport link between Sunbury and Diggers Rest, it continues to present serious and ongoing safety concerns,” he said. “Users travel immediately adjacent to high-speed traffic and are regularly exposed to hazards including loose gravel, vegetation encroachment and debris deposited on the pathway. “These conditions significantly increase the risk of serious injury or, in the worst
David O’Connor and Hector Bugeja want to see an ongoing maintenance schedule following their campaign for a clean-up of the busy Vineyard Road overpass. (Damjan Janevski) 564576_04
case, a fatal incident.” Mr O’Connor said the current advocacy campaign was focused on securing a proactive maintenance regime to keep the pathway safe, while also looking towards longer-term improvements. “Looking to the future, the substantial population growth across both Sunbury and Diggers Rest further strengthens the case for duplication of the Vineyard Road overpass, delivering a safer and more resilient long-term connection for pedestrians and cyclists,” he said. Campaigning from community members called on Sunbury MP Josh Bull to support efforts to ensure the
transport connection received appropriate inspection, maintenance, and attention. Mr Bull said he had raised residents’ concerns with the state government and agreed that the current maintenance arrangements needed improvement. “I speak regularly to the minister for roads and road safety. I have notified her office that the current maintenance schedule is not meeting community expectations,” Mr Bull said, adding regular maintenance responsibilities required a joint effort. “Maintenance responsibilities here rest with VicRoads, Hume City Council
and Melton City Council – requiring a coordinated maintenance approach.” Hume council assets, operations and sustainability director Matthew Irving said council both welcomes and supports the proposed maintenance and inspection works, but that it was up to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to get the ball rolling. “The bridge and shared pathway are the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Planning and council is not currently aware of any formal discussions regarding its management,” Mr Irving said. “Where council receives reports about maintenance issues on assets owned by an external authority, this information is generally referred to the responsible agency for investigation and action. “Council does support regular inspection and maintenance of public assets to ensure they remain safe, accessible and fit for purpose for the community.” Mr Bull did however confi rm additional works were planned to address issues with the bridge itself. “... Works will be taking place over the next month to rectify the expansion joints,” Mr Bull said. “Recent resurfacing works raised the height of the road slightly, and these upcoming rectification works will re-position the expansion joints to match.” A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said expansion joints on the Vineyard Road bridge over the Calder Freeway were being replaced to ensure they are level with the surrounding asphalt. “Our crews complete regular inspections right across the network to ensure the safety of all road users,” the spokesperson said. Melton council was contacted for comment.
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By Jack O’shea-Ayres