Geelong resident protests plan to change Carr St into multiple new streets and names

A Geelong resident is not impressed by the proposal put forward by council to rename Carr St and split it into multiple new streets.

Geelong council has proposed to change the name of Carr St and divide it into multiple sections. Picture: Alison Wynd

Geelong’s Carr St may shrink considerably as a council proposal indicates the street could soon be split with multiple new names.

City of Greater Geelong executive director of corporate services Troy Edwards said major upgrades at South Geelong station changed the layout of surrounding streets.

“We explored minimising changes to street names wherever possible, but have ultimately taken direction from Geographic Names Victoria,” he said.

“They’ve advised that the changes are required to meet the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria, which are focused on public safety by making sure streets can be easily navigated by emergency services.”

Geelong resident Peter Mackinlay said he became aware of the proposed change through a letter to the editor in the Geelong Advertiser.

He lives close to a Carr St intersection.

“If council gets its way I will soon have to drive through five new streets to get from Moorabool St to Boundary Rd,” he said.

“We were also completely in the dark as to why they want this.”

The proposals were Carr St between School and Yarra streets be a continuation of School St and renamed as such, between Moorabool and School streets renamed Sayer St or Chilwell St, between Gheringhap and Moorabool streets renamed Zoo St or Piper St, between Breakwater and Boundary roads renamed Brennan St or Sayer St and between Yarra and Swanston streets renamed Amphlett Way.

A two-way section between Swanston St and a new rail bridge near Breakwater Rd will continue to be Carr St.

There is also a proposal to rename Lonsdale St between Yarra and Swanston streets Jubilee St or Snell St.

Geelong resident Peter Mackinlay is bewildered by the council's proposal to change the name of Carr St. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Mackinlay said there were individual submission forms for each name change, which he completed.

He said he wrote to council to clarify why the road would be split, among other questions.

“The explanation given was the road naming rules require any street that is broken up by changes in direction should have different names,” he said.

“They have taken a basically straight street with a bit of a bend and said it’s got a discontinuity so needs to be split into many sections.

“But they are doing the opposite with Schools St, proposing to turn it around the corner to rename part of Carr St, in defiance of those rules.”

Mr Edwards said there was a consultation process for the changes.

“The proposals for the sections from Kilgour St to Swanston Sthave been forwarded to Geographic Names Victoria for a further 30-day submission period,” he said.

“We’re in the process of re-consulting with the property owners and residents in the section from Breakwater Rd to Boundary Rd, Thomson.”

Mr Edwards said residents and property owners would receive a support package, including new letterbox numbers and reply-paid envelopes, and council would notify authorities on their behalf.

Council confirmed its only costs would be the support packages and new street signs.

Originally published as Geelong resident protests plan to change Carr St into multiple new streets and names