Maroondah Council wants to get cars out of the centre of Ringwood, with bikes, pedestrians to take centre stage
The centre of Ringwood can be a nightmare with traffic building up in both directions on Maroondah Highway near Eastland. But the way you get around the main retail precinct could be about to change.
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Motorists will be encouraged to stay out of the centre of Ringwood with better pedestrian links and a high-frequency bus route to help fight congestion in the retail precinct.
As part of Maroondah Council’s amendment C130 for the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre, cars would use the Ringwood Bypass to unclog a large section of Maroondah Highway.
The amendment is out for public consultation before it is sent to the State Government for approval.
It is the final hurdle before the council can implement its Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre masterplan, which was approved in November 2018.
Along with provisions to build 10 feature buildings up to 15 storeys, the council developed a series of key priorities for transport and movement within the activity centre.
They include “keeping through traffic out of Ringwood MAC as much as possible”, extending the “boulevard treatment” along Maroondah Highway and making public transport, walking and bike riding more attractive.
The activity centre is bordered by Heatherdale railway station, the Ringwood Bypass, Ringwood Lake and Bedford Park.
Drivers would be encouraged to stay out of the activity centre and travel on the bypass.
To achieve its priorities, the masterplan has provisions for bicycle lanes on key roads — including Maroondah Highway — and increased pedestrian links.
A large public carpark and increased bus services including a high-frequency route around the centre have also been proposed.
Mayor Mike Symon said the council had to look at ways to manage traffic flow and liveability in the centre of the booming suburb.
Ringwood was identified as one of nine future Metropolitan Activity Centres in the State Government’s Plan Melbourne strategy.
“Growing up has its pains, and although its good to have more people, you don’t end up with more space,” he said.
“We have to balance more people with the same amount of space and it’s difficult.”
“The current mix is something we can’t change too easily, that’s why we’re providing more carparks in Ringwood, and Eastland is as big as it is.”
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Cr Symon said putting the planning scheme amendment out for community consultation was a statutory requirement under the Planning and Environment Act and submissions would be open until March 30.
Details: yoursay.maroondah.vic.gov.au