Residents in Sumner St, Brunswick East call for support to shut street
This street in Brunswick East will soon run into a massive development. To combat traffic and safety fears, residents want it to be shut off before the shoppers arrive.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A quiet street in Brunswick East that could become a route for rat runners trying to get to a major new development will be closed if the community has its way.
Residents in Sumner St have formed an action group to combat fears of cars spewing from Nicholson St into the otherwise quiet street and near the nearby kindergarten on Noel St.
COUNCIL PROBE INTO CUP DAY FLOODING IN BRUNSWICK STREET
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: VICTIM SHARES VISION OF BIKE THEFT
Plans for the massive East Brunswick Village on Nicholson St show an intersection with traffic lights at Sumner St. The village is expected to include 788 apartments, a supermarket and cinema.
Justin Davies, who has lived in the street for almost 20 years, said residents were advocating for the intersection with Nicholson St to be closed to avoid extra traffic.
“Human nature will send people down our street to avoid traffic,” Mr Davies said.
“There was no consultation with us and we just want it closed.”
Emily Harris said the primary concern for residents was the impact the village would have on safety and liveability for families east of Nicholson St.
Nicholson St is controlled by VicRoads and Moreland Council’s acting planning and economic development director Sue Vujcevic said any road closure could only be undertaken through consultation with both the community and VicRoads.
She said the council had contacted VicRoads regarding the future of the intersection.
“Where a council-owned road feeds into an arterial road, VicRoads plays a key role in any approval to close a road,” she said.
Both leading candidates for Brunswick in the state election, Tim Read of the Greens and Labor’s Cindy O’Connor, promised to work with VicRoads and the council to close the road.
MORE NEWS
THEFT VICTIM RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET