Thursday, 10 February 2022

Northern Metropolitan Region roads

Mr ONDARCHIE (Northern Metropolitan) (22:17): (1735) The adjournment matter I have this evening is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Fitzroy North residents are concerned about the traffic and the congestion and the time it takes them to get to work and school. The many residents who responded to my Fitzroy North community survey just recently I thank dearly for their feedback. They have told me that many young people do not have jobs that easily allow them to work from home, and some of them that have jobs in Melbourne’s north are hesitant to use public transport. We have some challenges on our public transport system in Melbourne’s north. They report it is a nightmare on St Georges Road trying to get to work on time in the morning through the peak hour and for school drop-off, and it has been difficult to get home in time to see their families. Before COVID-19 the majority of people in Fitzroy North—31 per cent—used a car to get to work. The action I seek from the minister, by way of directing the Department of Transport, is to do something about the light sequencing and the safety at the intersections where Holden Street crosses Nicholson Street and St Georges Road and where St Georges Road crosses Alexandra Parade and Scotchmer Street. I would like my residents to get home more safely and spend more time with their families.