By Brendan Rees
A push for a zebra crossing to be installed outside a retirement village in Cranbourne East has been knocked back by Casey Council.
Casey Councillor Amanda Stapledon says she will continue her fight for a pedestrian crossing on Rochester Parade – despite traffic figures not meeting Council requirements.
She says the danger facing pedestrians at the location frightened her, particularly senior citizens from the nearby Hunters Green Retirement Village who frequently used the road to walk to a nearby shopping centre.
“I don’t want to wait until an accident happens,” she said.
Casey Council adopted a motion last December to investigate the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Rochester Parade.
But after conducting a traffic survey on Rochester Parade outside the Hunters Green Retirement Village, the maximum number of pedestrians observed crossing the road in any one-hour period was only eight pedestrians and 236 vehicles.
An overwhelming majority of vehicles were also observed driving at 46 km/h which was below the 50km/h speed limit of the road.
A Council report noted that most pedestrians were occupants of the Hunters Green Retirement Village who walked to the Hunt Club Village Shopping Centre.
“They (occupants) were all able to stage their crossing at the splitter island associated with the roundabout and no safety issues were observed,” the report said.
No reported injury collisions on Rochester Parade in a five year period were also found in the report.
The cost of a flashing zebra crossing would cost Casey Council about $80,000-$100,000 to install – but is subject to approval from Melbourne Water as the road is considered an overland flow path.
Cr Stapledon said: “It’s a lot of money but what kind of prices is there in investing in the safety of our residents.”
“Our role as councillors is to stand up for the welfare and safety of our residents and I think we owe it to our seniors to make sure they are to remain as active as they can in a very safe way.”
She said there was a further nursing home being considered nearby: “There’s going to be a lot more traffic both in terms of vehicles and pedestrians.”
Hunters Green Retirement Village Residents Group member Hans Mook supported the call for a pedestrian crossing.
“We badly need something. It’s a dangerous corner.”
“There’s so much foot traffic and we’re building another 76 units at the moment and our traffic is going to be unbelievable.”
Cr Stapledon successfully moved a motion at a council meeting held on Tuesday, 6 February that Rochester Parade is reviewed in six months.
A report will come back to council in September.
