Councils Updated FAQ section - The petitions response. The campaign ramps up.
Maribyrnong council have also updated their FAQ section of the Polka dot trail site, attempting to curb the push for the removal of the dots: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/widgets/321122/faqs
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A REMINDER: Make your voice heard by encouraging others to sign this petition, make your voice heard on the council consultation page here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project by voting in the poll and adding your comments and maintaining the pressure on council to listen to the local community.
We encourage locals to email us footage (Video and Photos) of situations to: maribaction@gmail.com
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We are ramping up the campaign and pressure on council to have the Polka dot installations fully removed immediately - as council continue to show through their actions that they are willing to keep the hazardous Polka dot settings over ensuring the vital public safety/welfare of the local community.
The petition has now also created a viewable dropbox document. This contains the key details of stakeholders which the petition is being constantly sent to - Council engineers, council leadership, councillors, State and federal MPs, Council meeting info (and how you can add questions) but also links and contacts of media outlets. In most cases we have their direct telephone, email address etc.
Advocates are encouraged to make their voices heard on this important matter and make direct contact with (especially) their elected Yarraville ward councillors and State MPs to obtain their clear position on this installation - and highlight the situation at hand.
Link to the document "Advocacy contacts": https://www.dropbox.com/s/om7ytr7qxhkmr8u/Advocacy%20contacts.docx?dl=0
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The councils updated FAQ now include the below:
Why are you installing speed cushions?
- In response to conversations with local residents, concerns by some community members regarding the safety of child pedestrian, and the recommendations of an independent Road Safety Audit, we are installing temporary speed cushions at the intersection of Ballarat/Canterbury Street for the duration of the trial. We’ll also be making some modifications at the Anderson/Ballarat Street intersection and the bend of Anderson/Willis Street, and proactively installing speed cushions at both locations, as added measures.
How many speed cushions are being installed?
- There are a total of six speed cushions being installed – one either side of each polka dot installation.
When are you installing speed cushions?
- The speed cushions will be installed before Easter.
Are the speed cushions permanent?
- No, the speed cushions are temporary and will be in place for the duration of the trial.
What other modifications are you implementing to make the polka dots safer?
- In addition to the temporary speed cushions, Council has submitted an application with the Department of Transport (DoT) to turn Canterbury Street into a shared zone where pedestrians would have priority of the road and the speed limit would reduce to 20 km/hr.
We are also making modifications at the Anderson/Ballarat Street intersection and the bend of Anderson/Willis Street in line with recommendations of the independent Road Safety Audit.
Council will continue to actively monitor each of the locations to measure and evaluate road users’ interactions and implement further modifications to enhance safety as required.
Why not just remove the polka dots?
- While we appreciate the concerns raised, the majority of the local community has demonstrated support for the retention of the polka dots to be able to gauge if this innovative traffic calming treatment is effective and could be used in areas where other measures cannot be supported. Because safety is paramount, however, we are installing additional temporary safety measures – speed cushions and signage – to enhance pedestrian safety during the trial. We will continue to monitor, gather feedback and amend as required.
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The petitions response to these updated FAQs.
Reiterating the petitions' update earlier on the 1st April 2021 titled "Council now installing speed bumps. BUT THE DOTS REMAIN (Still). More media exposure" the petition maintains (and will continue to ramp up pressure) to fully remove the polka dots immediately. Anything less than full removal, will reflect that council is still willing to gamble the lives of the local community with a clearly failed project.
The petition (over and over) cites the Auckland reports and outcomes of their Polka dot installations as reflecting this installation not meeting the public safety outcomes - due to the extreme confusion about right of way between pedestrians and cars. This led to one of the Auckland polka dot sites being converted into a Zebra crossing, then into a raised road platform - because the polka dot installations were so ineffective. Only leading to a 5% reduction in speed limits. For detailed analysis of these Auckland reports, refer to our other petition updates.
In regards to "be able to gauge if this innovative traffic calming treatment is effective" - Maribyrnong council only has to look to the removal of the Polka dot setting (which became and zebra crossing and then raised road) in one Auckland site to clearly see that both pedestrians and motorists safety were at such a risk due to the confusion caused by the Polka dots. The fact that the trial is allowed to continue when already in just 3 weeks there has been a constant stream of near misses and incidents is shocking.
The petition highlights that council have now been forced into a rush to installing these safety humps, because clearly their initial installations proved to be dangerous - the independent Road Safety Audit which would have supported the concerns of local Yarraville residents highlight that council have been negligent in maintaining public safety. These installations still prove to be a safety hazard and was reflected in the reports from Auckland council.
Maribyrnong city council has shown through implementing this hazardous setting - and then forced into adding various infrastructure - that they are not able to maintain a safe environment for both drivers and pedestrians with these polka settings still in place. And continue to gamble the lives and safety of local children and residents.
The turning Canterbury Street into a shared zone (with pedestrian right of way) is welcomed and the petition is cautious about the other statements of "other installations". Council has displayed the inability to be transparent with this project - and especially with no public consultation regarding this installation, which would have saved wasting taxpayers on a failed concept.
In regards to the council claim that "the majority of the local community has demonstrated support for the retention of the polka dots". The current poll results being 67% voting no (the project not meeting the safety expectations) and wave of condemnation from community in the "ideas" (feedback section) here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project reflects the clear community scorn of this project. Even after council had sent an email to local community to encourage participation, the results still remained consistently against the project - even further prompting people to add their complaint.
The council is constantly perpetuating the narrative that the project has "majority support" and even consensus with all traders - when in fact the majority of local traders have been pushing for alterative solutions to road safety and within their brief dialogue had pushed for alternative options. The Auckland polka dot installation had majority either neutral or against the installations, and the Yarraville community is clearly voicing similar percentage waves of dissent.
The petition is constantly contacted by local parents, mature aged members and other community members advocating for its removal. The constant minimisation by council of these valid waves of concern as being seen as a minority perspective or only an experience by a few community members, is highly disappointing and dismisses the reality of community voices.