Cyclists on the bridge at Walmer Street. Credit:Simon Schluter Developer Salta proposes to turn the southern part of Walmer Street – a short dead-end road for cars but a trail access point for bike riders and pedestrians – into an underground car park entrance. A new "plaza" for cyclists and pedestrians would also be built on top of the entrance way, requiring traffic on the Main Yarra Trail to wend its way through a new switchback ramp. Cycling groups have condemned the plan, arguing it would jam up one of Melbourne's best-loved off-road bike trails.

"The connection to the Walmer Street bridge and the Yarra Trail has been badly botched," Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said. "The Yarra corridor is a fantastic natural asset for Melbourne and the trail is how most people get to experience it – there is no way the community will accept the access being choked by the current design of the apartment complex," he said. Mr Richards criticised a traffic impact study attached to the proposal, which noted that Walmer Street is used by just 45 vehicles per day but ignored the hundreds of cyclists who use it. He called on Planning Minister Richard Wynne to reject Salta's design. One part of the proposal currently awaits a decision by Mr Wynne; the other awaits a ruling following a recent VCAT hearing. ... after the proposed development.

Mr Wynne, who is also the MP for Richmond, said the Andrews government had encouraged Salta to address community concerns about development near the Yarra Trail. "I will assess this project based on advice from my department and VicRoads in the next few months," Mr Wynne said. "Development approvals need to enhance their surrounds and not impact amenity. The future of the Yarra Trail will of course form part of my decision." Salta's managing director, Sam Tarascio, defended the design, arguing that while riders would have to navigate a new switchback, the plaza would be better for cyclists overall. The new ramp would comply with disability access standards, unlike the current one between the bridge and the riverside trail below, he said.

"We've gone to great lengths to make a good environment for cyclists – the plaza will create total separation between bikes and cars," Mr Tarascio said. Chris Star, a spokeswoman for the Yarra Bicycle Users Group, predicted that the proposed plaza would become congested with riders, walkers, residents and cafe patrons. "It potentially could turn into another mess like you've got with the Capital City Trail in Southbank," Ms Star said. "You've got mixed use, and 'Oh, we can all share', but it just turns into contested space." The area already sees conflict involving cyclists. The recent bike count also recorded 25 riders with punctured tyres from tacks.

How cyclists would access the Main Yarra Trail if the developer's proposal goes ahead.