Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) presented a petition bearing 122 signatures:

This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly the lack of safety for pedestrians in Hurstbridge. Residents have observed drivers often failing to stop at marked crossings due to insufficient signage, lack of road markings, or overall poor visibility. Concerningly, pedestrians frequently cross the main Heidelberg-Kinglake Road throughout the township without the presence of marked crossings or pedestrian refuges due to a lack of safe crossing areas, including children disembarking from school buses. Signage and road markings are considerably inconsistent across the suburb and inadequate at some crossings. The speed limit is greater than 50 kilometers an hour in one section of road that includes a crossing next to a kindergarten and differs from surrounding streets. Petitioners are deeply concerned for the safety of pedestrians in Hurstbridge and call for an immediate and thorough evaluation with community consultation and demand improved pedestrian safety measures across the Hurstbridge area as a matter of urgency.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly requests the Minister for Roads to increase the number of safe crossings, install adequate signage, implement appropriate road markings and evaluate the suitability of raised crossings. Petitioners call for permanent pedestrian crossings or refuges including on Heidelberg-Kinglake Road near Rose Avenue, near Anzac Memorial Park, and close to the Primary School. Petitioners request improvements to the existing marked pedestrian crossing near the Post Office, including an assessment of its position, and call for enhancements to the Arthurs Creek Road crossing to increase visibility from Monash Bridge. Residents also request a reduction in speed limit to 50km/hr along Arthurs Creek Road near Haleys Gully to Heidelberg-Kinglake to ensure consistency in the area.

Ordered that petition be considered tomorrow.