Tuesday, 13 May 2025

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (18:50): (1601) My matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it relates to the lack of pedestrian safety along Blackshaws Road in Altona North. Altona North is booming. The development of the proposed Altona North precinct along Blackshaws Road will see 3000 more dwellings added to the area and even more vehicles using Blackshaws Road over the coming years. Blackshaws Road is already dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, with only a single traffic light and an ironically named pedestrian refuge in front of the Elizabeth Street shopping strip being the only safe place to cross between Millers Road and the Melbourne Road overpass, a distance of some 5 kilometres. The intersection at Millers Road is particularly treacherous and not fit to cope with the rising number of vehicles on the road. It desperately needs an upgrade to help reduce the number of accidents occurring there.

One of my constituents is vision-impaired and gets around with the aid of a guide dog and a mobility cane. In 2023 she and her guide dog were hit by a car on the Blackshaws Road left-turning lane zebra crossing. As a result, her guide dog developed anxiety and had to be retired, severely limiting her independence. She and her new guide dog were hit again in 2025, narrowly escaping serious injury. All told, my constituent has had no less than 12 near misses in the last two years.

This major intersection needs the installation of accessible pedestrian traffic signals with tactile markings to replace the zebra crossing, and better lighting. The rest of Blackshaws Road needs more traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. It is only a matter of time before a pedestrian or cyclist is killed on this busy road. I respectfully invite the minister to visit Blackshaws Road and maybe even attempt a road crossing. I am sure she will recognise the need for additional traffic infrastructure to increase pedestrian safety in this area. Pedestrians really should not have to take their lives into their hands every time they simply want to cross the road.