FOR many business owners, customers and residents of central Ballarat, revving cars and loud motorcycle sounds have become a part of the environment.<\/p>\n
However, a representative from the car community and Central Ward candidate John Dooley said it doesn\u2019t have to be this way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of the noise on Sturt Street is really annoying for the car community because it\u2019s not what we do, we just like classic cars and getting together and being community-minded,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happening is that up and down Sturt Street, the culture and tradition of revving as loud as you can up and down the street, everyone feels like it\u2019s a matter of time before something happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bad look, particularly for business owners who have people sitting out on the street, it impacts the workers in the cafes mentally because they are listening to it all day and as far as the residents go, well they can\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sturt Street resident Brian Anstey said the noise made by a select few cars and motorcycles has been an ongoing issue for the 14 years he\u2019s lived on the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve changed our double glazing twice for sound-proofing and nothing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt can\u2019t be both a racetrack and a recreational space for wining and dining.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want something to change.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to the issue Mr Dooley said he\u2019s working with business owners and residents to find a solution to calm the roads of the CBD.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s been put forward to me is that the police aren\u2019t interested and the City can\u2019t do anything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think you can do something, the City could introduce a by-law called anti-cruising and enforce some serious ramifications.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they know there is a law that if you cruise you will be punished, they will be deterred.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the City decides against an anti-cruising by-law Mr Dooley said there are other options to inhibit this kind of behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would urge residents and business owners to report them to the EPA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people make enough reports they can set up a camera or monitor around here and you would be shocked as to how quickly that would change things.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could also block off one lane, so to remove the stage, so there\u2019s no racing or intimidation or even set up a police car during peak times so everyone would have to slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a strong campaigner for the anti-cruising by-laws, Mr Dooley said it\u2019s the city\u2019s best chance at deterring dangerous and noisy drivers from our streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve put these by-laws in place already in Christchurch in New Zealand and it\u2019s a strong deterrent there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the by-law was passed I think it would be reduced by 50 per cent or more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf enough people get behind it and report these drivers, there is definitely something the City the police will have to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR many business owners, customers and residents of central Ballarat, revving cars and loud motorcycle sounds have become a part of the environment. However, a representative from the car community and Central Ward candidate John Dooley said it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. \u201cThe issue of the noise on Sturt Street is really annoying […]<\/p>\n