Safe streets for all

As I wrote this column, I was not surprised to read an article in a major newspaper on August 26 about the trauma injuries caused by e-scooters.

During mid-August, the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor chaired a meeting based on safety in our city. This of course covered many aspects of city life, however from those present, e-scooters were one of the key topics.

The article today talked about the lack of policing which is hardly fair. The privately owned scooters are illegal when more than 200 watts in power or 10kph in speed. It is very difficult for a police officer to tell from a distance the wattage of a scooter. If more than the 200-watt limit, the scooter requires registration and is classified as a motor vehicle.

Before you say, “another wowser complaining”, last week in Carlton I saw a scooter with three adult males onboard going quickly along the pavement. The impact of that scooter hitting an elderly pedestrian would be quite horrific.

E-scooters can and should be a safe method of transport but riders should be aware of those around them and along Royal Parade, while there is a shared footpath on the eastern side, it is not there for racing scooters.

The police are looking at this very closely and will prosecute when they can. This can affect your driver’s licence so let’s all work together, ride safely and care about your fellow Melburnians.

August saw the Parkville Association participate in a tour of Parkville Station. An amazing infrastructure!

Twenty residents were taken down the three levels and were amazed at the size of the project. The CYP Joint Venture has communicated brilliantly during construction, and we have worked as a team with them to make this a smooth transition for Parkville residents. We are all looking forward to trains running from our station and to having our first retail centre for Parkville since the late 1800s!

Bruce Pertzel and I also attended a council meeting regarding Planning Scheme Amendment C384 inundation overlay where we presented on behalf of residents in the southern end of Park Drive.

There is a meeting on August 31 followed by a panel in October. This could have serious ramifications for residents, so we need to make our association heard!

On a personal note, my granddaughter was playing in the Uni High string ensemble at the Clocktower in Moonee Ponds during two nights of the school concert. It was a glorious night seeing children enjoying performing and participating in an event that, due to COVID, had been postponed for the previous two years.

While we all know as adults the pain we went through during isolation, for children missing such events must have been terrible. Well done Uni High!

Meanwhile down Royal Parade the Carlton Football Club almost did it! Sad days but a hell of an improvement. Even though divided by Royal Parade that little area of Princes Park is very dear to many of us in Parkville.

Enjoy the beginning of spring! •