Ducks down, the no street sign ‘hazard’

They wanted something to be done. Jo Anderson and other concerned residents are calling for duck warning signs to be placed in and around Clayton Street, but they feel their request is falling on deaf ears. 

Ballarat City Mayor Des Hudson said he was aware of residents pushing for signage, but said the street was too far from Lake Esmond for signage to be needed.

Cr Hudson said requests for all signages were carefully considered but council had to be careful not to install to many signs, creating a confusing road.

Ms Anderson said residents felt the lack of signage had created an unsafe environment for drivers.

She said at times there were up to 20 ducks sitting on the road – which prompted people to makes erratic decisions.

“Some drivers speed up, some drivers slow down,” Ms Anderson said.

“The flock of ducks spreads from Larter Street … they get on the road and drivers plough into them.

“There have been quite a few dead.” 

The residents have also suggested decreasing the speed limit in the street down from 60 km/h an hour to 50 km/h.

They feel this would have many benefits.

“There is no bus stop, there are no footpaths, there a no signs for ducks,” Ms Anderson said.

Six new units are about to be developed and the residents feel the traffic problem will only get worse.

Ms Anderson said the group felt council’s response to residents’ concern had been inadequate. 

“We’ve heard nothing,” Ms Anderson said.

“And there were two crashes last week.” 

The residents feel that if nothing is done the road is “an accident waiting to happen”.

Cr Hudson acknowledged the residents concerns and said the “general proximity of the street to the lake” was one that “didn’t require signage”.

“It is not adjacent to Lake Esmond.”

Ballarat’s Road and Safety committee meets regularly and any suggestions by residents to make the roads safer are discussed.