Sturt Street traders are rejoicing following the state government’s dismissal of a speculative VicRoads plan to change six crossover streets and alter median strips for cycling paths.
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Significant changes were proposed for Lyon, Errard, Windemere, Talbot, Raglan and Ascot streets.
VicRoads had slated no north-south movement for the six roads intersecting with the major Ballarat thoroughfare, following 38 crashes resulting in injury over five years at those intersections.
More than 80 people attended a consultation event between Commerce Ballarat and VicRoads last week, with business owners concerned about having no input in the project and there being no finite plans.
At a door stop in Ballarat yesterday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said slated alterations the Sturt Street median gardens and six cross streets would not proceed.
“They are off the table,” he said. “That’s what listening and then getting on and doing what the community and businesses need, that’s what that’s all about.”
“There’s not the whole thing back to the drawing board, but there are some elements of it.”
SEE MR ANDREWS DISCUSS STURT STREET, FROM 16:56 ONWARD
Ballarat Real Estate principal Ron Morrison said he was pleased to see the state government had wound back changes to Sturt Street intersections.
He said continued attempts to push traffic out of Sturt Street by measures such as the intersection changes and Mair Street alterations were creating a “dead” central business district for traders.
“You just have to walk down the street and you’ll see vacant shops, and they’re struggling,” Mr Morrison said. “It’s a unique street, and therefore it does create that little problem [around safety], but putting in lights is the best way out in my opinion.”
City of Ballarat active transport working group chair Cr Belinda Coates said the Premier’s response “gave the appearance of caving into a scare-mongering campaign” of misinformation.
She said that the proposal for Sturt Street had broad benefits for pedestrians as well and would have seen the public fully utilising the median gardens.