|
 Calls to scrap Sandridge - 13 Feb 2002
By JEN KELLY, urban affairs reporter
DEMOLISHING Melbourne's worst river eyesore, Sandridge rail bridge, would cost $2 million and take six months. But calls to scrap it are growing from influential Victorians convinced a ferris wheel or cocoon would spoil the Yarra.
Critics argue the demolition cost would be cheaper than a $5 million conversion to a footbridge or a developer's white elephant.
Demolition firm Delta investigated and quoted the massive destruction project for the former Kennett government.
The State Government is expected to decide by April from two final development bids: a 100m ferris wheel or a cocoon of shops and a hotel.
Built in 1888, the bridge has languished since 1987 when the rail passenger line to Port Melbourne was replaced with a light rail service.
It is protected by the Government's conservation arm, Heritage Victoria, which must issue a permit for demolition.
The Government has the power to overrule the agency but rarely does.
Planning Minister John Thwaites has said if neither bid meets his criteria he would opt for a footbridge.
Commonwealth Games chief Ron Walker wants the bridge removed before Melbourne is showcased to the world in 2006.
"It's a blight on the skyline and there are already enough bridges across the Yarra," Mr Walker said.
Renowned architect Daryl Jackson, responsible for Colonial Stadium and the MCG's Great Southern Stand, said uncluttering the Yarra was vital.
"Every (proposed) design successfully managed to load up the bridge, blight the water vista and fail to understand Melbourne's need to value the river for its own sake, not for the impositions upon it," he said.
Opposition Leader Denis Napthine said neither the cocoon nor the ferris wheel was right for Melbourne.
"The best thing we can do for Melbourne is pull the bridge down," he said.
"It will reduce the clutter on the Yarra. It's an eyesore and it's outlived its usefulness."
Grocon's cocoon proposal is backed by several prominent architects and Melbourne City Council, which is part of the bid and wants a youth precinct on the north bank.
Entertainment promoter Paul Dainty has joined Melbourne "ambassador" Peter Janson and Melbourne Civic Group chairman Gary Morgan in backing the Melbourne Eye.
"We need something a bit sexy," Mr Dainty said. "When you think of Sydney you always think of the bridge and the Opera House. We need an icon."
Former lord mayor Peter Costigan regretted he could never fulfil his election campaign pledge to sink the bridge.
"It's a blot on the river and putting things on it is not going to improve it."
Derryn Hinch said he loathed the ferris wheel, and Grocon's cocoon was little better.
"Knock it down," he said. "It's ugly and hardly a relic, and it detracts from the rest of the river."
Former Office of Major Projects director Dick Roennfeldt called for a compromise -- removing the top and creating a simple walkway.
"I don't fancy anything that builds a structure on the bridge," he said.
"It's just a visual intrusion in the vista down the river. It's always been a bit of an eyesore."
Federation Square architect Peter Davidson dismissed the proposals but backed the bridge.
"The Eye is derived from London and I think that kind of copying is unworthy of the city," he said.
"The cocoon would need to be a much bolder design. If it lived up to the name cocoon it would be better.
"But you only pull things down when they're exhausted. You keep on using resources as long as you can."
RMIT associate professor of environment and planning Michael Buxton backed a footbridge.
"The cocoon would be quite overpowering and interfere with sight lines and be a real obstruction on the Yarra," he said.
"And the Eye is just a pale imitation. It would turn our most important icon, the Yarra, into a poor imitation of a theme park."
National Trust chairman Randall Bell said it would be neanderthal to tear it down.
"Keep it as a bridge," he said. "It is an important landmark in Melbourne that tells the city's history." Herald
Sun Story
|
