By BRIDGET COOK
VICROADS has shown disapproval towards closing both sides of High Street for the MRA Cranbourne GP Run to allow the event to expand.
The City of Casey was looking into an idea, suggested to it by local traders to keep High Street closed in both directions to help improve the event.
The council held a forum with traders and the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce (CCC) earlier this year to discuss how the event could be improved.
In a report that came back to the council in July, it stated that a key suggestion from traders at the forum was to keep High Street closed in both directions for an extended period on the day.
The council said it was suggested that the bikes could line up on the southbound lane, to head to Phillip Island, while the stallholders line up in the northbound lane.
The move would separate the bikes from pedestrians and visitors and encourage more activity on the west side, near Greg Clydesdale Square where children’s activities are usually set up.
Mayfield Ward councillor Gary Rowe said one the main concern was that the hive of activity was in the southbound carriageway of the road, and once the riders were waved-off it has to be reopened straight away.
Cr Rowe said he believed the entertainment and main stage should be moved to the opposite side of the road.
“There’s a great deal of merit for the move,” he said.
“Greg Clydesdale Square would be on the side with entertainment.
“The road could be shut down for a longer period of time, as it’s not blocking people from heading to the GP.
“The concern now is that the event just stops after the wave-off.
“All the people just disappear.
“By moving it to the other side, it would make it easier for people to stay around and the road could be shut down for a longer time.”
VicRoads acting metropolitan south east regional director Michael Barker said it was unlikely VicRoads would approve a full closure of High Street.
“VicRoads has issued a permit for the 2013 Cranbourne GP Run allowing for the closure of the southbound carriageway only,” he said.
“This is consistent with approvals from previous years.
“VicRoads is unlikely to approve a full closure of High Street as closing both the northbound and southbound carriageways would have significant impacts on the surrounding road network.”
High Street business owner Frank, from Frank D Hairstyling, said closing the northbound lanes would allow for a festival-type event to complement the wave-off.
“The event hasn’t hurt my business, but it does nothing for it,” he said.
“Cranbourne has great potential and you could get local bands performing on the day, local dance groups, and food and wine stalls up and down the street.
“I’m sure the businesses would be happy to chip in a $100 each for the day and get some rides for the kids.
“We get thousands of people in the street for the wave-off.
“Within 10 minutes from that happening it’s a ghost town.
“It’s a shame that while we get everyone there for the wave-off, that we can’t keep them around for longer with a festival type of event.
“That’s where the locals miss out.”
CCC president Mark Carusi said Cranbourne was the centre of attention on the day and organisers shoukd take advantage of that.
Mr Carusi said there were a number of other ideas the CCC would like to see implemented to make the event successful, both economically and socially, for the whole community.
“Setting up a big screen at either the race track or at the other end at either Lawson Poole Reserve or the Homemaker Centre carpark to watch the wave-off or the race on Sunday,” he said.
“Another suggestion was turning the day into a food and wine festival so that people stay and make a day of it.
“Organising a bike or car show or even a hot rod display, as this would appeal to all bike and car lovers, was another idea.”
Mr Carusi said the CCC would like to see shop owners invited to set up stalls to take advantage of the extra patronage on the day.
