Skids on High St

Inverleigh road plan anger

IT is two-way or no way in Inverleigh, with residents fighting major changes to the town’s main street.

Golden Plains councillors this week heeded the public’s resistance to a proposal to introduce one-way service roads in High St, deferring a decision on a $450,000 revamp until next year.

A petition was presented to council, with signatures from 264 people opposing plans to change service roads on the main thoroughfare from twoway to one-way.

Council officers had recommended the overhaul of High St, arguing the revamp would create a safer environment for pedestrians, provide more social spaces and improve alfresco dining.

The strip, on the south side of the Hamilton Highway between East and Dundas streets, includes the Inverleigh Hotel, service station, cafe, bakery and provedore.

A verge area of the service road in front of these business caters for the overflow parking of cars, which council officers said was to blame for damage to trees and infrastructure.

Mayor Owen Sharkey said the streetscape plan had been developed in response to community concerns about the “high interaction between pedestrians, traffic and vehicle parking”.

Initial feedback revealed improvements to drainage and formalising car parking ranked highly on the the community’s list of priorities.

“Most respondents considered that a pedestrian crossing would solve one of the main traffic issues, followed closely by the need to change ad hoc car parking,” a council report reads.

The council has indicated its preference to to pursue the $450,000 upgrade during 2019-20. Cr Sharkey said councillors agreed to hold off on a final decision until January, to allow more time for public consultation.