FAQs

This popular path needs to be widened to meet current footpath standards and better accommodate a variety of users. The new path will help to encourage people of all ages and abilities to walk and cycle in safety and comfort.  

Upgrades of recreational reserves throughout the City of Marion, such as the Hugh Johnson Boulevard Reserve, are incorporating wide paths as a matter of course to better accommodate more people, those with mobility aids such as electric scooters and walkers, children on bikes and cyclists pedalling for exercise or local travel.  

The City of Marion is targeting upgrades to infrastructure such as footpaths through streets and reserves to make them more inclusive for residents. Upgrades are prioritised where the existing infrastructure has been assessed in poor condition, is not compliant with standards, or if they do not meet the level of service they either currently or in future, will cater for.   

The Breakout Creek path is such a path. It is already used by cyclists, people with mobility aids and numerous pedestrians. Changes to the path will make it safer for all types of pedestrians and cyclists to use simultaneously. At 1.2m in width, and in close proximity to public transport and other shared use paths, the path’s location offers not just a recreational facility, but also a north-south connection for those catching the tram or riding on the Mike Turtur bikeway – to commute or recreate. 

All kerb ramps to facilitate road crossing are being upgraded as part of the works to achieve compliance with disability standards and support shared use. 

Operation of the Reserve

The Breakout Creek is a linear reserve that does allow for dogs to be off the leash, except near the playground, but it is not a designated dog park. As with all dog off-leash areas, dogs must be kept under effective control, or put on leash. 

There are two designated dog parks in the City of Marion: Hazelmere Road Reserve, Glengowrie and Trott Park. Hazelmere Road Reserve is located just 1.5km from Breakout Creek Reserve and caters for both big and small dogs. 

The existing fencing at Breakout Creek is open at all entrances except Maxwell Terrace. The path upgrade project will feature a wide shared space to signal the path end adjacent each roadside, requiring the removal of some, but not all fence panels. 

Under construction

The path has been designed to discourage high cyclist speeds through a meandering alignment and open shared spaces adjacent roadways. Signage will also be installed to instruct cyclists to slow down and give way to pedestrians. 

Importantly, the additional width of the path will enable separation of north and south bound pedestrians and cyclists, with those moving at a faster pace also having sufficient room to move around those going at a slower pace. 

The total project cost is $475,000 is partly funded by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport through the State Bicycle fund ($200,000), with the remainder funded by Council.

The Council is keen to preserve the environmental value of the reserve. This means protecting the trees, and where required, removing weed species. 

The Council has worked with arborist’s internally and consulted a specialist tree company to assess risks of a wider path to the trees and inform construction methods to avoid damage. 

The path will be built up, the width reduced where necessary and specialist ‘hydrovac’ methods employed near root systems of the large trees, under the eye of on-site arborists during construction in sensitive areas. The 2m of additional path width through the reserve is not considered to have a negative impact on the remaining green space, which varies from 13m to 20m wide along the alignment.  

The upgraded share path will be constructed with sufficient separation from the existing trike track and playground to reduce the chance of conflict between children and users of the main path. Sight lines from the north and south and are sufficient such that in the event children do go running onto the main path from the play area, they can be seen.