Thursday, 3 April 2025

 David HODGETT (Croydon) (17:15): (1111) My adjournment is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action I seek is for the minister and her department to install traffic lights at the intersection of Reay Road and Hull Road, Mooroolbark. Minister, in the time I have been a member of Parliament traffic congestion has been a big issue on Reay Road, Mooroolbark, for residents and the school communities as well as all road users. For a small road, Reay Road has a lot going on. As well as homes, it has two large schools – a primary and a secondary school – plus the Benetas St John’s Rise retirement village, which is now starting development of stage 2, meaning an additional 36 units are to be built. A recent planning application for a childcare centre in the street has increased concern regarding this already congested road and the impact that a rise in traffic will have.

Presently there is a pedestrian crossing on Hull Road approximately 10 metres from the entrance to Reay Road, which is triggered by pedestrians, along with the traffic on Reay Road; the traffic also triggers those lights. I am informed that residents from the retirement village are experiencing difficulties crossing Reay Road due to heavy traffic when trying to get to the pedestrian crossing. The introduction of traffic lights at this intersection would allow for the safe crossing of pedestrians wishing to cross Reay Road, as well as Hull Road, and allow for schoolchildren to come up from Charles Street, Mooroolbark, to continue to cross Hull Road safely. There is little that can be done to make Reay Road a bigger road or a wider road to handle the increasing traffic. However, traffic lights at this intersection will surely assist with pedestrian safety. Again, I call on the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to take action and for her and her department to install traffic lights at the intersection of Reay Road and Hull Road, Mooroolbark.