“It’s like putting a band-aid on a healed wound”: East Melbourne residents object to the council’s road safety proposal

East Melbourne residents are urging the City of Melbourne not to proceed with the installation of new road safety measures, describing them as “unnecessary” and a poor use of government funds.

The council has proposed installing four zebra crossings and several speed humps along Powlett St, as well as one at the intersection of Simpson and George streets.

Speaking with Inner City News, East Melbourne Group president Greg Bisinella said that while no-one was denying the importance of road safety, there was some division within the community over whether the zebra crossings were necessary.

Luke Martin is one of the residents opposed to the proposed road safety measures.

He said he was not convinced there was a genuine need and had been unable to find any evidence suggesting there was a “critical pedestrian safety issue” in East Melbourne.

He also questioned whether it was a worthwhile use of government funds.

“I just don't think the council has provided enough justification or undertaken decent, meaningful community consultation,” Mr Martin said.

“It’s a very pleasant area to walk through, and I just don’t see the need for more costly and intrusive works.”

The traffic calming measures will cost around $500,000 and are funded through a $1.1 million grant from the Federal Government’s Safe System Pedestrian Program. The remainder of the grant will be used for future pedestrian safety initiatives.

A council spokesperson said, “We’re rolling out a range of traffic calming measures to improve pedestrian safety in East Melbourne and Jolimont.”

“These measures follow community consultation and include new pedestrian crossings and speed humps at five roundabout intersections.”

However, if any measures are to be introduced, Mr Martin suggested a reduced speed limit of 30 km/h would be a preferable option, as implemented by Yarra City Council on Wellington St.

This would reduce the amount of visual clutter and signage, which Mr Martin believes is preferable.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece told Inner City News that East Melbourne may become Melbourne’s first 30 km/h suburb. He said that due to people speeding through suburban streets to get to the MCG or the city, there is a need for it.

The Victorian Government is currently developing a 30km/h Speed Zoning Policy, which is due to be published later this year and would allow the City of Melbourne to reduce the speed limit.

It will provide criteria and guidelines on what types of streets are suitable for lower speed zones, and recommended speed control treatments – such as speed humps and chicanes. The process of introducing new speed zones takes around 18 months.

“If it’s choice between a suburb strewn with speed humps or a lower speed limit I suspect a lot people would prefer less speed humps and the lower limit," the Lord Mayor said.

Additionally, from Monday, June 16, there will be a number of roads throughout Carlton that will have their speed limit reduced to 40 km/h.

This will include all local streets in Carlton, as well as several streets in Parkville and Princes Hill.

Currently, speed limits in these areas vary between 40km/h and 60km/h. According to a City of Melbourne spokesperson, introducing a consistent 40km/h limit will improve driving conditions, reduce the risk of collisions and help keep all road users safe. •