Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Ms WOOLDRIDGE (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:47): My question is to the Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC and relates to the busy roundabout intersection of Blackburn Road and Railway Road in Blackburn. The former member for Box Hill, the Honourable Robert Clark, presented a petition in the Legislative Assembly on 20 September 2018 signed by residents, constituents and business owners calling on the Victorian government to improve safety at the intersection. Over a number of years both Mr Clark and I have been regularly contacted by locals concerned about pedestrian safety at the roundabout. This roundabout is also right where my office is located and even my own staff are concerned. They have been forced to play chicken with the traffic. The pedestrian crossing is located less than 5 metres from the roundabout and despite ‘Keep roundabout clear at all times’ signs at the intersection, cars and buses regularly block and are stranded in the intersection. This results in blocking traffic turning into Blackburn Road as well as cars failing to stop at the pedestrian crossing. Both Blackburn Road and Railway Road are very busy, especially during peak hours. I ask the minister to investigate. Will the minister investigate making this intersection, both the roundabout and the pedestrian crossing, safer as a matter of priority and confirm if there is an accident record at the intersection?