Council set to bulldoze Murray St traders over pedestrian crossing

THE traders of Murray Street in Wonthaggi could not have been more emphatic in their opposition to the creation of a new flashing lights pedestrian crossing, opposite the Aldi Supermarket, rather than at the intersection with McKenzie Street or McBride Avenue.

A key sticking point in their opposition was the loss of a further seven car parking spaces at the eastern end of Murray Street, at a potential loss to traders of upwards of $300,000 annually.

Having delayed a decision on the contentious pedestrian crossing at its October 21 council meeting, in response to a Notice of Motion sponsored by the Mayor Cr Brett Tessari, but ultimately moved by Cr Mat Morgan, it is now being recommended to councillors that they vote to go ahead with the crossing at this Wednesday’s council meeting.

Key reasons raised by the shire administration for ignoring the concerns of traders about traffic congestion and the loss of parking spaces include:

• If the project is not delivered, Council risks losing funding through the Safer Local Roads and Streets Program and may need to return approximately $175,000 to the TAC.
• There is insufficient time remaining within the program to scope and deliver a new design at another location.
• The investigations and design work required to proceed to construction has been completed.

The total cost of the Murray Street pedestrian crossing is expected to be $212,000.

Despite calling for a rethink of the proposal, including presenting alternate design options “after consulting with Murray Street shopkeepers and hearing their concerns”, Cr Tessari did not speak to the motion he initiated at the October council meeting.

However, other councillors did speak, acceding to the request for a further report but either offering no objection to the siting of the crossing or expressing the view that it was only delaying the inevitable.

• Cr Mat Morgan: This motion is about a proposed pedestrian crossing in Wonthaggi on Murray Street. This motion just seeks for council to take, essentially, to just take five on this one while the precise location can be looked at. I believe Wonthaggi needs to be a more accessible and having worked at the Aldi on Murray Street, I've seen far too many people struggling to safely cross outside the store. I remain committed to pedestrian safety. Let's just ensure we put the white stripes in the best spot. I'd also like to acknowledge the mayor and the traders for their constructive engagement on this issue.
• Cr Tracey Bell: I'm pleased to second this motion. I think it's important to note that the motion doesn't determine where the pedestrian crossing should be located or make a judgment about where the current proposal is or whether it's the right space, it's just asking for a more detailed report for council to make the final determination. It's just seeking information on costs and funding opportunities, pedestrian and traffic safety implications, alternative design options, and recommended next steps. And they're all reasonable matters for us to consider. So, for those reasons, I'm happy to support.
• Cr John Temby: In my view, agreeing to the proposed delay only delays the implementation of the current and, to me, best option. It's the outcome of detailed consultation and investigations. The current proposal appears to best meet the safety and convenience needs of pedestrians travelling down McKenzie Street as well as those crossing Murray Street, despite reticence from some retailers. The chosen site has double the crossing needs of alternate locations, and the alternatives would not resolve the currently dangerous crossing by pedestrians at the McKenzie Street corner. The funds are available. Swapping to traffic lights at the corner would be a very expensive option by all accounts, and establishing the crossing further down Murray Street would not address the pedestrian needs beside the McKenzie Street intersection. We should proceed as planned. Delays won't help.
• Cr Jan Thompson: I also agree with Cr Temby's comments. I think this is just delaying the inevitable. I believe it's in the right place now, and as a disabled person, it's much easier for me to cross at that end rather than further down the road. I also support Cr Temby's comments.
• Cr Morgan summed it up: Look, I'll be quite brief in that I don't have a strong opinion on this either way. As a Bunurong Ward councillor like yourself, Mr Mayor, I've received plenty of consultation about this, and I've spoken with both pedestrians and the street traders, who I think some are in slightly different positions on this one. And I think Cr Temby, you're probably right. I tend to agree it is probably in the right spot, and I hope that this doesn't lead to too much delay. But unfortunately, this is how democracy works, and I'd love to make sure that everyone is heard before we put the paint on the road.

The report to be tabled at this Wednesday’s council meeting lists six options, but comes out strongly in favour of the planners’ preferred location, Option 5, as follows:

“Option 5 is the current design location and recorded the highest observed demand, with 85 pedestrians crossing during the 90-minute lunchtime count. Its mid-block position avoids turn lanes, follows an established pedestrian desire line, and would slow traffic, improving road safety and street amenity. These factors make it a well-used and operationally suitable location.”

The report also addresses the loss of seven parking places:

“The current proposal would remove seven on-street parking spaces. Five replacement spaces could be created west of the site, reducing the net loss to two spaces. This replacement parking has not progressed as the business owner has requested reinstatement of vehicle access on the south side of its building from Murray Street; that request must be resolved before the five spaces can be confirmed.”

Despite failing to resolve that issue, planners have put forward the following recommendation for council’s approval:

“That Council deliver the Murray Street pedestrian crossing project in accordance with the signed funding agreement between Council and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).”

It worth noting that while planners have put a definitive recommendation to the council, it was also at the October 21 meeting that the council voted against the officers’ recommendation and rejected the application for a McDonalds Restaurant in Cowes, based on community sentiment.

But the plan for the crossing isn’t the one recommended in ‘Figure 46’ of the ‘Smarter Choices Access and Movement Study’, prepared for the Bass Coast Shire Council by the Institute for Sensible Transport in July 2020.

That would have put the new crossing at the corner of Murray Street and McKenzie Street (Bass Highway), where plenty of people cross quite safely now, via a refuge island.