Sumner, Peers streets in Brunswick East to shut to traffic

It took seven months of doorknocks, data crunching and public meetings, but neighbours in two inner-city streets are celebrating a successful battle to ban through traffic.

People power has paid off for residents of Sumner and Peers streets. Picture: Josie Hayden

Following seven months of doorknocks and public meetings, the residents of Sumner and Peers streets are celebrating after winning their battle to close their streets to traffic.

The campaign to shut both Brunswick East streets to vehicles from Nicholson St began in

October, and on Wednesday, Moreland Council approved a temporary closure.

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In a trial to start in July or August, Sumner St will be shut 8m back from Nicholson St, and Peers St 12m back, with the closures permanent if the trial is successful.

Sumner St resident Justin Davies said the campaign began to stop rat-running cars and deal with traffic congestion around the nearby East Brunswick Village housing development.

Construction of the East Brunswick Village will make the problem worse, say campaigners.

He said a dedicated team of 12 doorknocked all homes in affected streets and kept locals involved. “We were successful because the residents were very well informed,” Mr Davies said.

“We initially started this because we weren’t consulted and we didn’t just rely on council to collect the data, we did the grunt work.”

That grunt work included gathering 78 people to attend an information session, with no responses answering in opposition to any road closures.

South Ward councillor Mark Riley said the hard work had sped up the closure.

“I wanted to acknowledge the community for their efforts … thank you so much for getting excellent data together,” he said.

Mr Davies said people in his street were looking forward to landscaping around permanent bollards should they be approved and hoped to make the street more welcoming to cyclists.

“We’ve got to continue the campaign and make it permanent,” he said.