Wednesday, 17 June 2026

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (11:04): I rise to make a further contribution on the Legislative Assembly’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee report on its inquiry into the impacts of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users. I continue to draw the house and the respective minister’s attention to the 61 findings and 56 recommendations set out in the report to make our streets, roads and neighbourhoods safer.

In that regard I again draw the house’s attention to recommendation 23 that the Department of Transport and Planning prioritise the delivery of accessible tram stops. I met with the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops organisation committee on Monday 15 June. They have since sent a letter to me and the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. They say:

Dear Minister,

Re: Installation of permanent accessible tram stops in Sydney Road for number 19 tram

We are a group of local residents, who have been working since 2023, brought together by our founding member Christian Astourian, who uses a motorised wheelchair and requires public transport to access his workplace. Our aim is to increase accessibility for our local tram network. This committee primarily supports human rights for people with disability but also advocates for parents with prams; older people and people with mobility issues who access the number 19 tram.

We met with … Member for Pascoe Vale on …

the 15th as a member of the parliamentary inquiry that we are referring to here. They go on note:

… the report identified that raised platforms acted as a traffic calming measure and result in an 81% reduction in crashes involving pedestrians. Our committee is also concerned for the safety of –

vulnerable road users –

… who use Sydney Road.

I indicated, and we discussed on the night, my willingness to work together and support the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops organising committee at this time with this advocacy. They went on:

We acknowledge and thank the government for the allocation of funding in the 2026/2027 state budget, for preliminary planning and consultation of accessible tram stops in Sydney Road. This initiative will contribute to the Federal government’s 2022 review, “Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport … requiring all public transport to adhere to standards by 2032.

There is an urgency to progress the installation of accessible trams stops in Syndey Road due to the Level Crossing removal project commencing in 2028 on the Upfield …

rail corridor, which runs parallel to Sydney Road.

We request the government allocates funding in the 2027–2028 state budget, for the building of accessible tram stops in Sydney Road, prior to the commencement of the level crossing removal on the Upfield train line in 2028.

They look forward to the minister’s response in that regard.

I also draw the house’s attention to recommendation 5 of the report around the Department of Transport and Planning revising its speed zoning policy and finding 15 around restrictions in Victoria’s speed zoning technical guidelines limiting the designation of 40-kilometre speed limit zones in certain areas, as well as timing the school speed zones, resulting in higher speed limits that place vulnerable road users at risk.

In this regard I draw attention to Gaffney Street in my community through Pascoe Vale and Coburg North. Gaffney Street is a major east–west arterial connector for many in my community which we have continued to invest in to make it safer through the signalised intersection at Gaffney Street and Sussex Street, replacing the previous dangerous roundabout, which my predecessor Lizzie Blandthorn secured and which we have since opened, which has made the area safer; the new raised and signalised pedestrian crossing for Pascoe Vale primary schools between Ann Street and Wilna Street; and safer speeds along Gaffney Street between Heath Street, Somerset Street and Stewart Street. We have extended the centre island with line marking and installing a small traffic island on Gaffney Street near Pascoe Vale station. We have widened the footpath on Gaffney Street and Heath Street to provide more space for pedestrians, and we have painted some bike sharrows and symbols along Gaffney Street near the station.

Notwithstanding that, there is more to do. That is why I am pleased to report that, after having been contacted by many locals following a number of serious accidents and incidents and far too many near misses, including the families from St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, I am pleased to have been informed that DTP will now be assessing a reduction in the speed limit from 60 kilometres down to 50 kilometres along Gaffney Street, through the Irvine Street and Landells Road corridor, right through to Sydney Road, I understand, in Coburg North. DTP says this assessment will consider current conditions, including pedestrian activity, traffic volumes and local access to build on our ongoing work to help make Gaffney Street safer for families, students and vulnerable road users.

DTP’s assessment will directly respond to the advocacy efforts I have been proud to help lead and support on behalf of locals regarding this stretch of Gaffney Street, which is increasingly utilised by local families, businesses and many other residents along Gaffney Street. I have received two wonderful letters, from the St Oliver Plunkett Primary School community and the Coburg North Primary School community. In relation to why we need to make this stretch of Gaffney Street safer, the principal of St Oliver’s principal Delfina Pieri states:

As Principal of St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, located on the corner of Landells Road and Gaffney Street … I am writing to express my –

and our school community’s –

strong support for the proposed extension of the 40 km/h school zone along Gaffney Street.

This is a high-priority matter for our school community, as it directly relates to the safety and wellbeing of our students, families and staff.

I will continue that contribution the next opportunity I get in this chamber, because we have an extensive letter from them and the Coburg North Primary School community that I would like to put on the record.