Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos – Keilor Park Drive, Keilor East Road safety concerns
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“Brimbank has a number of arterial roads which support heavy traffic and link major industrial areas with residential areas.
“We’re asking the Department of Transport and Planning to investigate and liaise with us to improve the safety of these roads for motorists and community.”
Quotes to be attributed to Cr Virginia Tachos:
“Community members have raised concerns with vehicles undertaking illegal manoeuvres on the Calder Freeway off-ramp at Keilor Park Drive, Keilor East.”
Background
Additional investigations are required by the State Government to determine what measures and upgrades can be made at the intersection of Calder Freeway off-ramp/ Keilor Park Drive/ Old Calder Highway intersection to improve road safety.
Council will write to the Department of Transport and Planning to request an investigation and implement measures to improve traffic flow and safety.
Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos – Urgent action on Bus Reforms in the West
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“The pause on a number of key infrastructure projects in Melbourne’s west while we await the 90 day review being led by Infrastructure Australia has put the focus back on the inadequacies and inequity of public transport in Melbourne’s west and the other opportunities to address this in Brimbank like the reform of metropolitan bus network.
“Council’s Transport Priorities Paper highlighted the importance of providing a bus network that is appealing to use and reconfigured to provide direct routes, while maintaining equitable access for all. There is significant alignment between Council’s Transport Priorities Paper and the Better Buses Campaign from Friends of the Earth, which advocates for clear solutions that will improve public transport connectivity in and around Melbourne’s western suburbs.”
Quotes to be attributed to Cr Virginia Tachos:
“There is a real opportunity for investment in a transformation of the bus network, which requires much less funding and time than major projects. Focusing on bus network reform could lead to major improvements for our community in an achievable and affordable way for Government.
“Communities have been working so hard for the last two years to push for better buses in their areas, and the Better Buses Campaign reflects this community sentiment. We can’t afford to let this hard work go to waste, everyone deserves access to public transport!”
Background
Brimbank City Council will write to the Hon Ben Carroll MP and ask that the Friends of the Earth Better Buses Campaign is prioritised for the west given the pausing of several major transport infrastructure projects and will provide a copy of the letter to the Hon. Natalie Suleyman, Member for St Albans, and Ms Sarah Connolly, Member for Laverton.
Friends of the Earth’s Better Buses Campaign highlights the benefits of a new ‘clean- slate’ bus network to replace the existing collection of routes which are no longer fit for purpose in Melbourne’s west. The proposed new network is built on a grid of fewer, but more frequent and direct bus routes, operating on a budget of bus service-hours comparable to the existing network.
Council’s Transport Priorities Paper identifies the need for better bus infrastructure and a more reliable and high frequency bus service that links key employment hubs including major industrial precincts throughout Brimbank and the west and to the CBD.
The Friends of the Earth’s Better Buses Campaign with Council’s Transport Priorities Paper advocate for a better bus network for not just Brimbank, but the entire west.
Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos – State funding for bicycle education programs
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“We have great facilities for bike riding in Brimbank. Including bike paths along creeks and in major parks. Riding a bike is not only one of life’s great joys but also benefits the individual and the environment.
“Brimbank Council is calling on the State Government to support bike-riding education programs to ensure all children can have a go and learn new skills.”
Quotes to be attributed to Cr Virginia Tachos:
“Many kids in Brimbank are from families who might not have been exposed to bicycle riding or safety. These kids are more likely to be injured or injure others without proper training and support through professional organisations such as the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre.
“Giving all preschools and primary schools in Melbourne’s west access to fully State Government funded education classes will ensure all kids have access to knowledge and experience that will benefit them for their whole lives.”
Background
Brimbank City Council owns the bicycle education facility at Green Gully Reserve, which is managed on behalf of Council by the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre Inc. under a lease agreement.
While the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre offers a range of courses in bike riding and safety, many kids are not taking advantage of these for various cultural or socioeconomic reasons. In many cases their families are also not proficient in riding a bicycle so not able to teach them. Increasing cost of living demands also makes it difficult for families to afford these education sessions.
Brimbank Council will write to the Education Minister request that preschool and primary schools in Brimbank and the West are provided with fully subsidised bicycle education classes at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre to both access and learn to ride a bicycle safely.
Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Thomas O’Reilly – Road Safety at Anderson Road, Sunshine and The Avenue, Sunshine West
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“We’re asking for a number of improvements to be investigated as well as direct action to be taken on matters of roads and road safety that are under the care and management of the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
“Community safety is our priority and these recommendations to the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning have been assessed by Council improve pedestrian and motorist safety and increase bike path use.”
Quotes to be attributed to Cr Thomas O’Reilly
“Community members have raised road safety concerns in relation to pedestrians trying to cross Anderson Road, at the school crossing near Derby Road, Sunshine, and the intersection of Fitzgerald Road and The Avenue, Sunshine West.
“In addition, the bike path near the Western Ring Road is not cleaned regularly which makes it dangerous for cyclists as well as unsightly. Attention to and improvements to these roads and the bike path will benefit the local community.”
Background
The roads identified as being in need of safety improvements by Brimbank Council are arterial roads carrying large volumes of traffic, including high numbers of heavy vehicles that travel through industrial areas and provide access to the Western Ring Road.
These roads are under the care and management of the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
The installation of a Pedestrian Operated Signal (POS) will significantly improve road safety for pedestrians, provide a safe controlled crossing point for school children and pedestrians and control car access to major roads.
Concerns have also been raised by pedestrians and cyclists regarding dumping of rubbish at the bike path near the Western Ring Road and the lack of cleaning of the bike path from the dumped rubbish.
Regular cleaning of the bike path could encourage more cyclist to use the bike path, resulting in less reliance on motor vehicles and better health and wellbeing for members of the community.
Council will write to the Department of Transport and Planning, with a copy to the Member for Laverton, seeking the Department:
- investigate the feasibility for an additional Pedestrian Crossing along the southern part of Anderson Roads, Sunshine
- investigate the feasibility for traffic lights at the school crossing on Anderson and Derby Road and the intersection of The Avenue and Fitzgerald Road, Sunshine West
- clean up the bike path near Western Ring Road, and
- advise Council of its intentions regarding the above requests, including timeframes for such action.
Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Lancashire – Public Facing Framework or Policy regarding known and potentially contaminated land
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“Legacy contamination is an enormous issue for Brimbank and Melbourne’s West.
It is important that the community understands where it can get the best information about contaminated and potentially contaminated land.
Receiving a report will enable Council to better understand what options are available to us to better enable our community to get up to date information about known and potentially contaminated land.”
Background
Brimbank has 17 contaminated sites listed on the EPA Priority Register requiring various actions. Council also has an operational framework for the management of known and potentially contaminated land. This is an internal operational framework reporting to Council’s Audit and Risk Committee.
There are examples of other Councils having a publicly available policy framework to manage contaminated and potentially contaminated land.
Council will prepare a report on what would be involved in developing a public facing policy or framework related to contaminated and potentially contaminated land.