Craigburn Farm bushfire exits being considered by Mitcham Council
Craigburn Farm would get a new bushfire road exit, under a council plan, as residents fear they could be trapped and face a traffic jam if they tried to leave a fire in a hurry.
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The potential for a traffic bottleneck in a foothills suburb as residents scramble to escape bushfires would be alleviated by a new road exit, a Mitcham Council report has found.
Under a council staff plan, an exit point would be built at the end of either Star Lily or Verdelho Street.
It would allow residents to leave the suburb via Brighton Parade or Cumming Street in the event of a bushfire.
Currently, the only exits for the northern end of Craigburn Farm are connected to Coromandel Parade – which would create a bottleneck of traffic if people tried to leave the suburb at the same time.
Otherwise, they would have to drive up to 2km west to Craigburn Road to escape.
Some residents would also potentially have to drive in the direction of a fire before they could leave the suburb.
It is proposed that the exit point would be open full time – not just when there was a bushfire risk – because sending staff to open it would create even more risk.
It would be built in a chicane-style to stop people using it to enter the street from the north at other times.
According to a report by Mitcham Council engineers Richard Tang and Chris Haskas, the exit at Verdelho Street would cost $42,000 to build, compared to $61,500 at Star Lily Street.
They have recommended the first option as to connect Star Lily Street to the Brighton Parade and Cumming Street roundabout would be “considerably more complex”.
A previous feasibility study said permanently connecting Star Lily Street to the roundabout had the most merit, but a report by transport firm GTA Consulting said that would unduly drive more cars through the quiet street.
Craigburn Ward councillor Karen Hockley said she was “torn” on the issue because she agreed better exits were needed, but was not sure the options presented were the best available.
She said she heard the need for easier bushfire exits “loud and clear” every time she doorknocked the area.
“My concern is they need to be really well designed so they serve the community in Craigburn Farm to allow them to exit if need be, but they don’t create cut-through traffic off Coromandel Parade and through the estate,” Cr Hockley said.
The matter is set to be discussed on Tuesday night.