Fellows St Mitcham: Whitehorse Council approves Christmas lights traffic measures

Extra safety measures have been hastily arranged for a popular Christmas lights display in Mitcham over dangerous traffic fears.

Christmas lights displays on Mitcham's Fellows St have become extremely popular in recent years. Picture: Councillor Ben Stennett Facebook page.

Ratepayers will foot a $15,000 bill for nine days of traffic management on a Mitcham street over fears a popular Christmas lights display will cause safety issues.

Whitehorse councillors voted eight-to-three on Monday night to put the extra measures in place on Fellows St from December 16-24.

The street had traffic management in place for last year’s Christmas lights last year due to leftover funding from roadworks, but none was planned for this year.

Cr Ben Stennett raised the issue in urgent business, saying traffic in the area was “dangerous and chaotic” when the lights display was on.

Traffic management has been ordered by Whitehorse Council, at a cost of $15,000 for nine days at Mitcham's Fellows St. Picture: Councillor Ben Stennett Facebook page.

He said a young boy was knocked over and required an ambulance in a previous year, which emphasised the need for extra safety measures.

“The entire street for a number of years has got involved in Christmas lights displays to the point where it’s become … a local identity in itself,” he said.

“Christmas is meant to be a happy occasion, and while council isn’t putting on this event, we do have some duty and power here in the area of community safety.”

Cr Prue Cutts agreed with Cr Stennett, saying Fellows St had become “the go to street in Whitehorse” for Christmas lights.

“It is delightful but absolutely chaotic, in terms of community safety this is really important,” she said.

But Cr Andrew Munroe disagreed, fearing it could start a precedent of residents expecting funding year on year, and lead to other streets with growing displays also wanting the same support.

“I’ve seen quite a number of new properties present Christmas lights this year across the municipality … I would argue its not just one place,” he said.

“We need a contingency in the future to consider for traffic hot spots that come up from time to time, just to choose one location sets a precedent that is problematic.”

Cr Amanda McNeil supported the funding for Fellows St, but also agreed with Cr Munroe’s view that lights displays were growing in Whitehorse, and it was an issue to put on council officers’ radar ahead of next year’s festive season.

“There are quite a few of these popping up in other areas, they are absolutely gorgeous, and people do spend a lot of time effort and money and the community really loves it,” she said.

“It prompts us now to think this is an issue that will pop up next year and (ask officers) how we approach it.”