VicRoads has questioned the timeline around Ballarat City Council’s road management plan for Saturday’s inaugural AFL fixture at Mars Stadium, saying the finalised plan was delivered months behind schedule.
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Creswick Road will be blocked off to traffic between Howitt and Norman streets for a period before and after the game, with footy fans encouraged to park at the Wendouree Sports Precinct or Midlands Golf Club.
The finalised plans were not signed off by VicRoads until late last week, just a fortnight out from the clash between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.
VicRoads Western Victoria regional director Ewen Nevett said while he was confident the plan would be implemented successfully, he had expected to see a finalised plan well before August.
“Our experience with major events is all these matters are dealt with months in advance which allows plenty of time for review and for setting up those plans,” Mr Nevett said. “There was always going to be a need to look at closing Creswick Road with such a major event and it was a matter of working out what the times of that would be and if there was any major transport which would be expecting to use the road at that time.”
Free park and ride services will also be available from the Ballarat West Employment Zone, while a shuttle bus will run from Mair Street to the stadium and neighbouring live site from 10.30am.
In a statement City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said “VicRoads has been involved throughout the entire development of the AFL game day traffic management plan, which began in January and was tabled in first draft in April”.
