Council Minutes - Section D: Urgent Businesslors

Urgent Business tabled at the Community Focus Council Meeting of Council on 12 February 2019 which was held at the Potato Shed, 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale.

Note: Introduction of Urgent Business requires two-thirds majority of Councillors present.

Councillor Kontelj proposes to raise the following item as Urgent Business:

Councillor Kontelj moved, Councillor Aitken seconded -

That Council considers as Urgent Business a motion concerning the Malop Street Traffic Issues.

Carried.

Malop Street traffic issues

Stage one of the Malop Street Green Spine (Green Spine), the block between Moorabool and Yarra Streets is now complete.

The Green Spine was highlighted as a ‘catalyst project’ in the Vision 2 work and became a project in Council’s 2013 Central Geelong Action Plan. The project supported the desire to develop green spines that makes the city more liveable and encourages people to connect.

The design of the Green Spine included the removal of turning lanes on the east approach to the intersection of Moorabool / Malop Streets and the west approach to the intersection of Yarra / Malop Streets to allow space for the non-car dependent uses.

Since the changes there appears to have been a slowing of traffic with increased travel times through Malop Street, increased vehicle queuing by vehicles and blocking of intersections and pedestrian crossings by vehicles.

The Green Spine’s traffic issues need to be fully investigated and addressed promptly. The City should work with VicRoads and VicPol to investigate signalling improvements and management of traffic congestions across intersections. In addition, the City needs to consider what impact the recent changes, including the installation of the bike lanes, may have had on traffic flow and movement and what actions potentially need to be taken.

To strategically understand traffic implications, including travel times, vehicle queuing and volumes, a post evaluation traffic study should be completed and reviewed to inform action on possible improvement opportunities.

Councillor Kontelj moved, Councillor Aitken seconded -

That Council:

Note the traffic flow issues that are currently experienced in the Green Spine;
In order to significantly improve vehicle traffic flow and movement through the Green Spine, work with VicRoads to investigate all possible improvement opportunities taking into consideration what impact the recent changes, including the installation of the bike lanes, may have had on traffic flow and movement;
Work with VicPol to ensure safety aspects of traffic congestion are managed appropriately in the Green Spine;
Undertake a detailed post-evaluation of traffic for the Green Spine project; and
Report back to Council with all findings and recommendations by no later than 18 June 2019.

Carried Unanimously.

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Council Minutes - Section C: Urgent Business - 12 February 2019

Malop Street traffic issues