A COMMUNITY campaign is calling for the removal of road barriers and signage along a scenic road in Red Hill, arguing they are unsightly and “totally disproportionate” to actual crash data.
Road barriers were installed along Arthurs Seat Rd between Whitehill Rd and Red Hill Rd in response to safety risks, which was funded through the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program, with the speed limit also reduced to 60kmh. But according to the Red Hill Community Association’s (RHCA) president and leader of the Bring Down the Barriers group Carolynn Massola, “the works are an overkill”, and “totally disproportionate” compared to the risks and incident data. “The council is also destroying the scenic value of the hinterland area,” she said. “There was no community consultation or engagement. We know what’s required in our local area and there are plenty of other locations that would benefit from federal blackspot funding.”
According to the Bring Down the Barriers group, there is no record or local knowledge of any traffic collision having occurred on the section of road for the past 50 years. So far about 75 road signs, including warning drivers to slow down and chevron signs along Arthurs Seat Rd have mysteriously vanished – however the Bring Down the Barriers’ group firmly denied any participation in this incident, but did understand if people were getting frustrated by the “overkill” and “visual pollution” of signs. More than 2000 residents have signed a petition urging the council to remove the barriers and signage in front of Eldridge Estate along Arthurs Seat Rd which they believed had compromised the rural landscape and the unique character of Red Hill.
The group also said the road measure contravened the Mornington Peninsula’s Green Wedge Management Plan, which “proposes the investigation of measures to limit the adverse landscape impacts of hedges/uncontrolled roadside vegetation, infrastructure installations, earthworks and other structures that detract from landscape quality”. A photo of Eldridge Estate at 120 Arthurs Seat Rd is featured in the document.
The petition is calling for a review and the supplying of data underpinning the Blackspot Program and consultation on the justification for keeping all other barriers and signs on Arthurs Seat Rd. Petitioners also want a new independent report on traffic movement in front of the United service station on Arthurs Seat Rd and subject to community consultation, action to “modify and rectify those works”. The petition further asks for a commitment to community consultation regarding any future programs in relation to public infrastructure in the Coolart Ward, including blackspot works.
The petition was tabled at the council’s 3 December meeting. In response, mayor Cr Anthony Marsh read a statement on behalf of shire’s strategic and infrastructure planning manager Katanya Barlow, which noted funding was sought for the section of road to improve safety “given the crash history and risk of future crashes”. “The treatments that have been delivered primarily focus on preventing and reducing the severity of run off road and head on crashes (by delineation and installation of guardrails),” Marsh said.
Marsh also said in response to community concerns about the project an independent road safety assessment of the Arthurs Seat Rd Black Spot Project was commissioned, which found the project “adhered to the Black Spot guidelines and has improved the level of safety for road users”. “It recommended that an assessment of the signage be undertaken to determine whether it is all necessary now that the speed limit has been reduced to 60kmh.
Through the statement, Marsh said a review would be undertaken to review the number and type of signage installed and whether some of it can be removed.
A review into community consultation for road safety projects was also being carried out, Marsh said.
“In relation to the footpath, pedestrian refuge and car parking works in front of the United service station on Arthurs Seat Road, these works are delivering actions from council’s Red Hill traffic management plan and the recommendations of a Road Safety Assessment that was undertaken in January 2024 in response to parking concerns in the area.” Marsh added shire officers would follow up the issue with the petition lodger.
The Bring Down the Barriers’ group did not support the concurrent and separate program of works outside the United service station which included a traffic island, parking and pedestrian works. “It is incoherent and has potential for future chaos and unsafe movement of traffic,” Massola said. “Unfortunately, council is imposing suburban solutions on our rural setting.” She added the group also believed the council had “failed to use their discretion to find a balance between safety and preservation of the scenic rural character and the economic tourism value of the iconic hinterland”.
The Bring Down the Barriers’ group comprises representatives from the Red Hill Community Association, Red Hill Football Netball Club, Red Hill Lions, Red Hill Fire Brigade, Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show Society, Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association, Mornington Peninsula Landcare, Hinterland Tourism Association and the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 December 2024
