City of Yarra planned to close roads to stop COVID-19 spread
The City of Yarra wanted to spend $250,000 closing three busy streets in Melbourne’s inner city for three months to slow the spread of coronavirus.
VIC News
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An inner-city council bid to tackle COVID-19 by closing three busy suburban streets has been voted down by councillors.
The aim was to free up bike lanes and footpaths to address social distancing problems.
Councillors considered a proposal last night to shut busy streets such as Trenerry Crescent in Abbotsford, Coppin St in Richmond and Wellington St in Collingwood for three months.
But after a heated debate between the eight councillors, the proposal passed with amendments, with Councillor Stephen Jolly calling for community consultation before Trenerry Crescent is shut.
“The outrage at the undemocratic proposal to close major streets without talking first to locals has had an effect,” Cr Jolly said.
“Council backed off and will now consult first on Trenerry Crescent and have changed the proposals for Wellington and Coppin Streets.”
A council report said there would be “some vocal opposition” to the proposed trials, expected to cost up to $250,000.
On Tuesday Cr Stephen Jolly said the move was “absolutely ludicrous”.
“This is going to have such a huge impact on local businesses and residents. There was no community consultation about this, it’s just crazy,” Cr Jolly said.
“Thousands of residents use these major arterial roads every day, the impacts are enormous.”
“This is so out of touch with the community and it’s going to disrupt so many lives.”
The proposed closures were set to include:
* Trenerry Crescent, between Clifton Hill and Abbotsford, under the Eastern Freeway;
* Wellington St, Collingwood, between Johnston St and Alexandra Pde
* Coppin St, north of Bridge Rd, Richmond.
Other turning lanes – on Nicholson St in Abbotsford and Gipps St in Collingwood – would ban cars and convert to bikes-only routes.
The Yarra council report recognised that the proposed trials would result in “increased inconvenience for some residents and visitors due to increased travel time
for some car journeys’’.
Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said the council’s move was irresponsible.
“Yarra Council is a member of IMAP who are pushing a multi-council approach to remove traffic and install unwanted bike lanes in their place. This will destroy businesses and inundate local communities with traffic congestion,” Mr Hurlston said.
“IMAP is nothing more than a virtue-signalling waste of ratepayers’ money and time. It’s about councillors overinflating their roles and creating yet more boards to sit upon. IMAP should be immediately disbanded and thrown in the bin.”
The Department of Transport would have to sign off on any road changes.