The Belconnen Mall Red Bridge is to be removed this weekend (19/20 March 2011)

This is the response I received from TaMS:

“Thank you for your enquiry/complaint in regards to the removal of the Red Pedestrian Bridge in Belconnen.

I myself and many others share the disappointment associated with the removal of the pedestrian bridge. It should be noted that this decision to remove the bridge was not made by the ACT Government and has been driven by Westfield Shopping Centre, who hold the lease where the bridge lands on the northern side of the extended Cohen Street.

The bridge was originally relocated by Westfield’s as part of the redevelopment of the Belconnen Shopping Centre. Westfield were involved in negotiations with the ACT Government recently when concerns over the removal were raised.

The bridge structure itself is owned by the ACT Government and will be stored at the Fyshwick Depot until another use has been identified.”

ryza said :

Jimbo, you are probably spot on.

Almost every aspect of the new developments in Belconnen are …. daft.

The new bus terminal out in the open has very little coverage from the sun/rain/snow which I find just plain stupid, this hardly promotes punter usage.

HUGE Car Parks are becoming the bane of the Canberra town centres landscape. Actually, Canberras town centres are being destroyed by these Mega Malls, especially the city.

That plus they tore down the vert ramp…

One positive though is area around thee lake with the addition of Prince Palace Chinese, mmmm yum cha.

Speaking of car parks, is it my imagination or has the new development resulted in an overall net loss of car parking at Belconnen mall? I doubt the new part of the lakeside carpark makes up for the car park opposite the cop shop that has gone as well as the car parks where the new extension is. Also why didn’t they make the new carpark the same width and alignment as the lakeside car park? Silly development indeed.

Also it seems that every new development removes car parks but brings in new customers wanting to park their cars. God help is come Christmas time, Belconnen will be a bigger nightmare than usual.

p1 said :

This is ridiculous. They only just moved it to its current location. Are they allowed to just remove it, or do they need some sort of planning permission? And if they have permission, which buttplug gave it too them?

I understand that change and progress happen, and I usually try not to let my sentimentality and hoarder instinct out, but I thought that then recent replacement of the red bridge was a good way to preserve its iconic status while letting the mall move on. Is there a valid reason for its removal now?

‘

It’s relocation was only temporary, it was always meant to go and think you will find it isn’t Westfield removing it but the government. But yes a very stupid thing. What they should have done is put in a new permanent (covered) walkway when the belco works started.

Well the whole Belconnen town center used to work a lot better when all the covered pedestrian overpass walkways were linking all the government buildings and interchange.
Sure it was a bit Soviet 70s looking, but nothing a bit of a facelift couldn’t have fixed.

The redesigned interchange is terrible, and closing the dedicated busway to give westfield more room for parking is crazy.

Now its just a terrible area, seems the only consideration these days is car access.

Oh well, all the more reason to avoid the area

I’m not saying I agree with the removal of the red bridge, just stating that its demise was advertised well before any of the demolition/construction work started. For the record I don’t agree with the bridge removal, the new interchange configuration or the construction quality and aesthetics of the megamall expansion.

KaptnKaos said :

Have notice quite a few actgovco renovations/closures of sites (playgrounds, carparks, walkways, roads etc.) lately with no warning or consultation. Thought we lived in a democratic society, my mistake.

a) Proof or GTFO
b) Why would this decision have anything at all to do with the ACT Government. Or have you just tacked on a generic sook about gummint because you were too lazy to post your own article about this supposed lack of consultation.

Keijidosha said :

The bridge was always slated for removal from the start of the bus interchange demolition and Westfield expansion. I’m not sure why it is a surprise to anyone but those who live under rocks.

Really? Why did they spend what must have been tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars to cut and move it then if they only ever intended to use it for another year? That would mean not only that they don’t care about Belco’s limited social history, but they have very poor business sense as well.

Keijidosha said :

The bridge was always slated for removal from the start of the bus interchange demolition and Westfield expansion. I’m not sure why it is a surprise to anyone but those who live under rocks.

From under my rock it makes no sense at all and still doesnt make it right.

Typical business decision aiming to inconvenience and squeeze more money out of Jo Public.

Have notice quite a few actgovco renovations/closures of sites (playgrounds, carparks, walkways, roads etc.) lately with no warning or consultation. Thought we lived in a democratic society, my mistake.

I remember that bridge being built. Mum used to have a business nearby and it made it so much easier to get the big fancy mall, haha.