The Courier approached VicRoads with multiple questions about the city’s road safety, and specifically Sturt Street, following yet another collision at one of the worst intersections on Wednesday.

VicRoads Western Region regional director Mal Kersting was not forthcoming on specifics or a time frame, saying only, “We're continuing to work with a number of stakeholders in order to identify a range of possible solutions to address safety issues along Sturt Street.”

“Road safety is our number one priority,” Mr Kersting said, “which is why we're working hard to find a solution to this issue that is going to ensure the long-term safety of all road users.”

It was not clear as to when news of “possible solutions” might become apparent. The Courier noted in May this year that “VicRoads was investigating but had not yet revealed its options.” 

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s crash adds to the increasing number of collisions and crashes on Sturt Street.

In the five years to June, Sturt Street had 76 crashes causing injury between Grenville and Pleasant Streets. Of these 43 had occurred at the six Sturt Street intersections without traffic lights and these did not include collisions where only vehicle damage was sustained.

Minister for Roads and Roads Safety Luke Donnellan also had no new information, saying only that, “VicRoads is working closely with a range of road safety partners, including the City of Ballarat, in order to identify the best approach to tackling safety concerns relating to Sturt Street.”

The Courier’s questions follow VicRoads’ proposal earlier this year to change and restrict north-south movement for the six crossover roads and implement major changes to Lyons, Errard, Windemere, Talbot, Raglan and Ascot streets.

VicRoads data had previously shown the Ascot Street intersection was a hot-spot for more crashes than any other intersection along Ballarat’s main street.

It was also one of the six intersections that VicRoads had planned to alter, before Premier Daniel Andrews stepped in. 

However, following the Victorian Government’s dismissal early this year of a proposal to change six crossover streets intersecting with Ballarat’s major thoroughfare Sturt Street, no further plan has been tabled.

The most recent collision at the Sturt and Ascot Street’s intersection involved two cars and occurred about 8.50am on Wednesday. 

The city-bound lanes of Sturt Street were blocked following the crash, with police, ambulance paramedics and fire services all attending. An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said two men were assessed and treated at the scene but no injuries were recorded.

The premier’s direction to “return to the drawing board” followed a consultation event involving Commerce Ballarat and VicRoads in February this year. Mr Andrews said it was about “listening and then doing what the community and businesses need.”

Business owners, including Ballarat Real Estate principal Ron Morrison, said at the time they were concerned the changes to mooted Sturt Street intersections would push traffic out of the business CBD and create a “dead” central business district for retail traders.

City of Ballarat Active Transport Working Group Chair, Councillor Belinda Coates said the dismissed plan for Sturt Street did offer benefits for pedestrians and would have better utilised the median strip gardens.

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