Have a say for our safety
At last Thursday’s meeting, I found Rhonda and Ross very patient in listening to and discussing concepts and issues with community members who were interested in making improvements to Anzac Ave.
Ross said he is very open to ongoing conversations before the initial masterplans are drawn up for further comment, just give him a call.
Also, it appears that council will be looking for state and federal funding to bring this project into fruition.
I observed at Thursday’s meet that the following issues seem to continually crop up.
1. It seems that the majority of the community surveyed to date want to keep the four lanes of Anzac Ave. People are concerned about the existing truck route and impact of trucks on a single-lane Anzac Ave, plus how population growth will impact Anzac Ave in the future.
2. Cycling paths continue to be a contentious issue. Some people want them, others do not. The nature strips are very wide on one side of Anzac Ave and would possibly accommodate an integrated bike/footpath for much of its length (I believe there are Australian standards for bike path widths that need to be taken into consideration). The centre median-strip doesn’t appear to be a viable option for a cycling path due to the many centre crossovers. I believe council feels it would be safer for bike riders to use one side or the other of Anzac Ave (not necessarily the road), and many community members seem to agree with this.
3. There is a need for several more safe pedestrian crossings, possibly line-marked, possibly traffic-lighted. This would enable the safe crossing of Anzac Ave, especially for less able-bodied people, children on bikes and those who use four-wheeled motor scooters.
4. The need for managed intersections, such as Oak St/Chittick Place/Anzac Ave and Keith St/ Anzac Ave (due to the new hub being built and the resulting increase in vehicle and foot traffic), as well as Goulburn St. These could then include safe pedestrian crossings and void the need for separate crossings in the vicinity.
5. The possible diversion of trucks from Anzac Ave to another route.
6. The safety of children cycling/walking to school.
7. Making Anzac Ave a nicer environment. Suggestions are sought for plants/trees/shrubs/ grasses/ ground covers that are hardy and make a pleasing impression, but won’t be a visual impediment to drivers or problem for power lines and road drains.
8. The unification of speed limits was discussed, including a possible reduction in speed.
9. The need for a standardisation of road signs, and locating them in a consistent manner, so they are more easily seen.
10. The retention of parking along Anzac Ave allows for trucks, cars, caravans, tradies and trailers etc, not just single vehicle parking bays.
My understanding is that many of these issues have been bought to VicRoads’, now Regional Roads Victoria (RRV), attention by the Mitchell Shire Council in recent years and RRV don’t deem these things nessecary to keep our community safe.
We need to start with a top-notch community consultation so that plans representative of the community’s needs can be drawn up.
It is up to us, the people of Seymour, to come out in large numbers and have our say, so that the council has some weight and evidence behind it when it approaches RRV again.
Please push the council to lengthen its initial consultation with you, the members of our community, and have your say now.