By Meg Kennedy<\/p>\n
All residents of the Providence Retirement Village want is to safely cross a road outside their home.<\/p>\n
Angry protestors gathered outside the Griffith St residence in Maddingley last Thursday, to discuss options with local and federal government representatives for a potential lighted pedestrian crossing at the adjacent bus stop.<\/p>\n
Providence Village is located on the south side of the busy thoroughfare, leaving elderly residents struggling to find a safe space to cross.<\/p>\n
The road has seen an increase in traffic in the last few years following the development of the Stonehill Estate, as well as the nearby Bacchus Marsh College and Industrial Estate.<\/p>\n
Representatives of Moorabool Shire Council, including Mayor Cr Paul Tatchell, Infrastructure General Manager Phil Jeffrey, Deputy Mayor Cr John Keogh and Cr Tonia Dudzik and Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King, heard from concerned residents about their need to safely cross the busy three-lane Griffith St road.<\/p>\n
Ms King said for the residents of Providence Village to get into town, they have to cross 3-lanes of traffic – without lights and without a pedestrian crossing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not good enough,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not every day you see 90-year old aged-care residents standing outside on a cold winters day protesting, and I will continue to support these residents in any way I can as they keep up their campaign for Moorabool Council to provide the facilities they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although a traffic island is currently located on Franklin St, residents say it is too far away from the village, creates an uphill journey for elderly residents when returning, and is uneven ground for those who use scooters.<\/p>\n
Potential interim options discussed included changes to the bus route, cutting out the road\u2019s centre lane and an increase of speed cameras in the area.<\/p>\n
Infrastructure Manager Phil Jeffrey told residents that a \u201cfull upgrade\u201d of Griffith St was \u201cin the pipeline\u201d but emphasised a signalled pedestrian crossing outcome would \u201cneed more research\u201d, highlighting criteria such as traffic numbers and the number of pedestrians per hour on the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, pedestrian safety is paramount, we don\u2019t deny that, but also we need to think about the other traffic movers as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Protest organiser Sylvia Merry told the Moorabool News the ultimate goal for the protestors is to see a lighted pedestrian crossing located out the front of the village, so residents can safely catch the bus into the town centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoorabool Shire Council has put an interim refuge in Franklin Street, and that\u2019s unacceptable to us. It doesn\u2019t help our situation, we need something up here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Merry said the group has been protesting for seven years and that \u201cwe have tried several times, the Social Club of Providence Village has been trying to get it to happen, now we are taking a further stand.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for her message to government bodies who are in-charge of the area, Ms Merry said they need to \u201cthink about the elderly and give us something, because we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will take whatever measures we need to make it happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mr Jeffrey confirmed to the Moorabool News that Griffith Street is a local road and Moorabool Shire is the responsible authority. <\/p>\n
\u201cAny traffic investigation, design and physical works will need to be funded by Council although we will look at opportunities for external funding of any proposed project on the road,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Meg Kennedy All residents of the Providence Retirement Village want is to safely cross a road outside their home. Angry protestors gathered outside the Griffith St residence in Maddingley last Thursday, to discuss options with local and federal government representatives for a potential lighted pedestrian crossing at the adjacent bus stop. Providence Village is […]<\/p>\n