‘Like a racetrack’: Bellarine residents call on Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to green light Tivoli Drive safety assessment

Further development in a fast-growing pocket on the Bellarine Peninsula is creating safety concerns among residents who say “it’s more than just whacking a house up”.

Tom O’Connor is a member of the Tivoli Drive Residents Group. Picture: Mark Wilson

                                   

Concern among local residents is mounting over plans for a dual carriageway as part of the second stage of the Jetty Rd development in Curlewis.

Safety is at the heart of those concerns and resident Neil McGuinness, who has been working with the Tivoli Drive Residents Group (TDRG), said the state government must conduct an assessment before a final decision was made.

“If they put a dual carriageway right the way through a Curlewis development, I thought it would have definite safety issues,” he said.

“I think a service road would be a lot safer and more pleasant for people living alongside that road.

“Now is the time to do the assessment so what we build is safe for future generations.”

The stage two traffic report shows plans for a dual carriageway on Tivoli Drive north of the rail trail crossing, while a single carriageway would exist to the south.

The road connects Portarlington Road with Coryule Rd and the Bayview Central Shopping area.

It is a busy thoroughfare in the fast-growing area and Mr McGuinness said traffic reports had focused on volume, rather than safety.

The TDRG has asked Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to approve the assessment, but it has not heard back.

Group member and former Geelong councillor Tom O’Connor said the TDRG had previously been involved with the installation of traffic lights and speeds bumps along the road.

“It’s not a quiet residential road,” he said.

“It’s almost like a racetrack for people to go through because it’s a straight line.

“We have to consider the community amenity and if we also need pedestrian crossings, treed nature strips and wider footpaths.”

Tom O’Connor is concerned about what a dual carriageway would mean for Tivoli Drive residents. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Mr O’Connor, who is considering another City Hall tilt, said the safety and attractiveness of the area must be at the forefront of any decisions.

“It’s more than just whacking a house up,” he said.

City of Greater Geelong executive director of placemaking Tennille Bradley said stage one of the Jetty Rd development delivered 1700 houses and the Bayview Shopping Centre.

“Traffic engineering assessments were undertaken by Traffix Group and no safety concerns

were raised,” she said about the stage two plans.

Ms Bradley said the second stage would include infrastructure to cater for pedestrians and cyclists, including off-road shared paths.

“The Bellarine Rail Trail crossing on Tivoli Drive will be upgraded when the road is duplicated and include a road safety audit to ensure the safety of the crossing for all users,” she said.

“Council traffic engineers will assess traffic impact reports associated with future

development plan and subdivision permit applications.”

Ms Bradley said it was anticipated that an amendment required for the development to proceed would go before council in December.

If adopted, it would be considered by Ms Kilkenny in the first half next year.

Her office was contacted for comment.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as ‘Like a racetrack’: Bellarine residents call on Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to green light Tivoli Drive safety assessment