Bumper update - Your councillors position? Michael Clarkes' new comments. and more.
Todays update includes - (We would encourage you to read all):
- Yarraville ward councillors positions on the issue
- Key links
- Maribyrnong Council - Facebook Post - 1st April 2021
- The petitions response to many of these important points raised.
- More Media Coverage
- Petitions response to Councillor Michael Clarke's media comments to Channel 7news.
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Yarraville ward councillors positions on the issue
We would highlight that currently none of the three elected Yarraville ward councillors - Michael Clarke, Simon Crawford or Jorge Jorquera - have made their position on these Polka dot settings known publicly to the community - also not to the petition either. We fully understand they are in a challenging position but we send an open invitation for these councillors to transparent with the Yarraville community (whom they are representing and the many who voted for them) and to make their position/their views known on where they stand on this important issue. Especially as the issue continues to make national and state news.
Councillors can make their positions known via their social media accounts (listed below) or by emailing us direct at maribaction@gmail.com
We also encourage the local community to make direct contact with your elected Yarraville ward councillors - we emphasise in a respectful and productive manner - to speak about own personal experiences regarding the Yarraville village settings, advocate for the removal of these installations and to raise your serious concerns about this issue.
For your reference the councillors details are below:
Maribyrnong City Council - Yarraville ward councillors - https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/About-us/Your-Councillors
Michael Clarke (Also the current mayor) - Tel: 0435 340 699 / Email: Cr.Clarke@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maribyrnongmayor
Simon Crawford - Tel: 0429 388 196 / Email: Cr.Crawford@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simoncrawfordforyarraville
Jorge Jorquera - Tel: 0409 841 985 / Email: Cr.Jorquera@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jorgevicsoc
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KEY LINKS:
AS USUAL 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
Key resources for your use:
Advocacy contacts - A summary of key contacts to advocate this issue to: Document link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/om7ytr7qxhkmr8u/Advocacy%20contacts.docx?dl=0
Media Coverage - A running summary of links to the media coverage of the situation. Document link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fd2s10w6dsdk000/Media%20exposure.docx?dl=0
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Maribyrnong Council - Facebook Post - 1st April 2021 - at 10.55am - https://www.facebook.com/Maribyrnong/posts/5344521885589262
Maribyrnong council posted an update on their council Facebook page to attempt to address the installation of the new speed bumps by saying:
(Quote) We recently painted a range of bright and bold polka dots on the road pavement at three intersections in Yarraville with an aim to encourage drivers to slow down and give more visibility to other road users – pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers. To further enhance pedestrian safety during the trial, we’re installing temporary speed cushions at each of the installation locations to assist in managing driver speeds through these areas. These changes are in response to conversations with local residents, concerns by some community members regarding the safety of child pedestrians, and the recommendations of an independent Road Safety Audit. (Unquote)
As you can imagine this post gained considerable attention (like all previous posts regarding the Polka dot situation have) and waves of negative feedback.
Many local community members raised an assortment of valid and important aspects which council need to address. A selection of notable comments on this thread were:
"Can you please publish the independent Road Safety Audit, and tell us how much the "innovative initiative" (that no one asked for) has cost the community?"
"My safety conscious 7 year old lost all sense of her environment and started jumping on them like she was in a playground. I thought the petition was OTT until I witness how children were interacting first hand. Either close off the road to cars or remove the dots."
"So you are installing speed cushions to slow down traffic before they get to the polka dots... which were intended to slow down traffic but actually look like a playground on the road. Who did the independent safety audit? Was it the mayor asking year sixes again?"
"How ridiculous! I think you missed the point of peoples concerns. The spots need to go"
"Can you please release the cost of this project? As rate paying residents, we have the right to know where our money is being spent. Is there a reason why council is keeping the cost from us?"
"Odd response - kids can still get killed or seriously injured by cars driving 5kms slower."
"Omg wasting more money!!! So you’re installing speed bumps to slow traffic down when entering the polka dot area which was meant to slow traffic down. Just remove the dots! Next time please set up a stall in the village for a few weeks to talk to the people on the ground about what you intend to implement in the area. Ask for feedback, suggestions and ideas for improvement."
"Speed bumps are fine, but the ‘kids playground’ vibe simply needs to go."
"The voices wanted the spots gone. Not more money spent on slowing traffic for what the Polka dots study trial were put in for. So your study trial is flawed."
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The petitions response to many of these important points raised.
Clearly Maribyrnong city council are still attempting to save face and doing anything (and everything) to attempt to salvage this failing project. For as long as the Polka dot settings remain, the core factor of the level of hazard and ongoing incidents will remain - regardless of how many speed humps, planter boxes and signage council attempts to add.
Council need to answer and be transparent to the community in providing key information regarding the project, which CANNOT be found or has NOT be made public on their council FAQ project section here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/widgets/321122/faqs
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Key issues:
1. The independent Road Safety Audit report. Changes were made (quote)"in line with recommendations of the independent Road Safety Audit."(unquote). Council needs to be transparent with the community and release the Independent road safety audit document. Clearly the report has highlighted safety issues which the community found out first hand after installation. The fact that council had to conduct a safety audit, reflects that the project was created based on a concept which was "cookie cutter like" planted in the Yarraville Village area without due process. The public deserves to know the full details of this report and what failings of the project the report highlights.
Clearly this is an embarrassing look for council, as the modifications prompted by public campaigning and a safety report, reflects a major failing on their part to maintain public safety and admits safety shortcomings. If council do not release the full "Independent Road Safety Audit report" that was conducted, this would reflect a continued evasiveness to transparency and accountability - especially for a project with no public consultation.
If they do not release the document, what does council have to hide? Does the community still have confidence in council being able to maintain public safety - after these developments and the fact that the original polka dot settings were unsafe (and still are)? There are many serious implications arising from the "lets see how we go approach" from council.
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2. (Quote) "Because safety is paramount" (Unquote). Council have continually fully missed the point and have failed to address the root cause of the safety issues - being the Polka dots.
The local community - especially parents have highlighted over and over first hand experiences of why the Polka dots - even with any installations - will STILL remain as the core hazard. These are real local community members, with real legitimate concerns for the welfare of their children and we need to respect the gravity of these troubling experiences and first hand accounts. These accounts must not be minimised, dismissed or disappointingly framed as being a "parenting issue" or "lack of education" - especially as parents highlight the challenges especially for young toddlers who at their developmental level are instinctively highly influenced by the "children’s' playground appearance of the visual appearance of the Polka dots.
Here as just some of the flood of comments from local community members, which the petition has been provided as evidence that these are real experiences:
On the Councils project feedback wall, in response to a feedback point here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/brainstormers/ideas-wall/ideas/37905 , one local resident echoed the clear sentiment of the Polka dots being the root cause by saying:
(Quote)..for 1-4 year olds, when they are told not too, they still see the dots as fun to jump on. Parents don’t allow kids to play on the road! I had to drag my screaming toddler across with arms full of groceries and holding a balance bike and her hand, it was very hard and stressful because the colourful polka dots was drawing her attention and she didn’t understand why I was saying no you can’t play on the polka dots. This is not the place to have them on the road! Easy to point the finger at parents, until you have to deal with it yourself!(Unquote)
In response to the Councils Facebook post one local mother commented (Quote) "My safety conscious 7 year old lost all sense of her environment and started jumping on them like she was in a playground. I thought the petition was OTT until I witness how children were interacting first hand. Either close off the road to cars or remove the dots." (Unquote)
On the Councils own project feedback wall - https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/brainstormers/ideas-wall/ideas/37917 , A local mother GemmaC explains: (Quote)"They are confusing for young children, my 3 year old thinks it’s some kind of park."(Unquote)
Again - On the Councils project feedback wall - https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/brainstormers/ideas-wall/ideas/37700 , A local mother Laura Palou explains: "Remove them. Tragedy waiting to happen with kids running through them as if it was a play area." with a response from another local, (Quote) My 6 year old after crossing run back because “he had forgotten to jump on a yellow one”. Luckily an incoming car had enough to break. (Unquote)
How many more parents need to face more near misses and potential accidents in Yarraville village before council take these matters seriously and remove the Polka dots? - rather than spend more ratepayers money by retaining the hazard and adding more ineffective infrastructure, attempting to mask the issue.
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3. (Quote) "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."(Unquote)
The fact that council now is required to install speed humps next to the Polka dot settings highlights that the Polka dots are NOT meeting project outcomes. The premise of the Polka dots according to council was to slow down traffic and (quote) "to attract the driver’s eye encouraging them to slow and approach the space with caution, increasing their awareness of other road users such as the elderly, children, and cyclists." (Unquote).
Council simply cannot now at all quantify or determine the pure effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the Polka dot setting alone, which now have the added speed bump infrastructure added. The speed bumps being added will now obviously slow down traffic to an extent, and it would be very mischievous and disingenuous of council to imply (and have the ongoing evaluation of outcomes determine) that by now installing the speed bumps that the polka dot installations are somehow delivering the outcomes and reductions in speed.
If the polka dot settings were actually meeting the outcomes regarding specifically speed (like Mayor Michael Clarke said to the media), why would there be need for speed humps? These actions are very telling and highlight the continual failure of the polka dot settings to ensure public safety and meet project objectives.
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4. The cost to local ratepayers for the Polka dot installations - and ongoing/added costs.
The cost to Maribyrnong ratepayers for these Polka dot installations have NOT been made public. The public has the right to know how much council has spent and continues to spend on a project that never had public consultation prior to implementation.
Especially in the time of covid-19 recovery where the Maribyrnong council community are facing considerable challenges and considerable hardship, the community expects council to be prudent in how their rates are being spent. This is in the realities of local community members expressing disgust at the monies spent on this hazardous setting who have mentioned that due to the pandemic they had lost employment, businesses and are struggling to pay for basic necessities - and to simply put food on the table.
As the council attempts to continue to salvage this sinking Polka dot project, they are spending more and more of ratepayers monies on added infrastructure, audits, speed bumps, signage and other associated costs. Council can still make the decision to remove the Polka dots and end the constant expenditure that is being spent on rescuing this dangerous setting - but simply are choosing not to.
In a time of great community need, Maribyrnong council has instead prioritised and spent valuable ratepayers monies on an experimental and hazardous installation which has now put immense pressure on local families - and their children’s welfare. This is the last thing local families need, who are already facing great stress and hardship - financially and mentally.
Some local families with young children have come forward, disclosing they are now avoiding visiting the Yarraville Village area because of the level of stress and heightened risks to their children - having lost confidence in council to ensure community safety in the village setting.
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MORE MEDIA COVERAGE:
On top of the situation appearing on 3aw Radio and the Herald Sun - again - other media outlets have continued their close reporting on this matter, regarding the installation of the speed humps. Journalists have expressed they are closely following developments and the local Yarraville community will continue be in close dialogues with media to hold council accountable for this situation - until the installations are removed.
New coverage:
News.com.au - Speed bumps installed over ‘dangerous’ giant polka dots on Yarraville road - April 2 2021 - https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/speed-bumps-installed-over-dangerous-giant-polka-dots-on-yarraville-road/news-story/af2a6eeb2dfb5fb89865b670863b4598
Star Weekly - Speed humps placed over polka dots at Yarraville - 2nd April 2021 - https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/speed-humps-placed-over-polka-dots-at-yarraville/
7news - Melbourne council acts after outrage over ‘dangerous’ new road safety initiative - 2nd April 2021 - https://7news.com.au/travel/victoria-traffic/melbourne-council-acts-after-outrage-over-dangerous-new-road-safety-initiative-c-2493462
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Petitions response to Councillor Michael Clarke's media comments to Channel 7news:
Councillor and current mayor Michael Clarke spoke to 7news (the article link above) and mentioned the following:
1. (Quote) Speaking to 7 News, Councillor Clarke said there had been “a clear reduction in speed in the district since we put the polka dots in”. He added he was surprised at the controversy the spots had caused, but understood “there are dimensions to every initiative”. “This is one of those examples of only after the implementation, we found there was an issue,” he said. (Unquote)
It is again very unfortunate that Michael Clarke is continually required to front up to the media as Mayor of Maribyrnong city council, to attempt to substantiate the failing and hazardous polka dot setting - and deliver the councils' position on behalf of the Maribyrnong council Engineering department and internal road operations.
These latest comments by Mr Clarke reflect an ongoing pattern of rather embarrassing, regrettable and exposing statements regarding the issue to the media.
Adding to his comments previously made to 3AW radio here: https://www.3aw.com.au/why-a-melbourne-council-has-painted-giant-polka-dots-on-a-busy-street/
When asked about if there was public consultation and consideration of child safety risks, Councillor Clarke had said it’s a problem the council considered before installing the dots by saying (quote) “I actually put that question to the grade sixes at St Margaret’s Primary School in Maribyrnong, and all 41 kids were very clear that they wouldn’t run onto the road just to look at circles,” (unquote)
Now the added comments to 7news that (quote)"he was surprised at the controversy the spots had caused, but understood “there are dimensions to every initiative”(unquote), reflects their obvious lack of community engagement with the Yarraville community as councillor on this issue - especially with local parents.
The rhetoric of this statement also rather startlingly appears to be dismissive of the serious and legitimate concerns raised about these polka dots installations - and seemingly also (intentionally or unintentionally) attempts to frame all these people who raised these serious safety issues as being a "fringe collective" or people seemingly "starting trouble". The welfare and public safety of the local community has always and will always be the primary motivator for this campaign and the people behind it – and to suggest otherwise is highly insensitive to these first hand experiences of locals.
Members of the community, such as parents, who have (and continue to have near misses) are certainly not surprised at all that the Polka dots are an issue - and rather than for these disappointing statements being made, we would encourage Mr Clarke to actively make their position known regarding this important issue and engage directly with locals – and most importantly listen.
2. (quote) "a clear reduction in speed in the district since we put the polka dots in" (unquote). Council have not released any interim outcomes or evaluations to the public regarding the polka dot installations. The council continually states that the project is addressing speed in the area, yet on top of all the safety incidents they have now been forced to add speed humps - because the project is working so well?
The factual realities of the project does not align with the assertions made by Mr Clarke or council, especially as they have not quantified the reduction (if any). Using the ambiguous term "clear reduction" could mean a "clear reduction" of a negligible 1%? Yet the public is only provided with assertions and vague statements. Council and Mr Clarke need to be transparent and quantify the so called "reduction".
3. (quote)“This is one of those examples of only after the implementation, we found there was an issue”(unquote)
This statement reflects the ongoing level of lack of confidence the local community is developing towards council regarding public safety, arising from the total mismanagement of this Polka dot project. Especially combined with the fact there was no public consultation, informal school consultation with 41 grade 6 students and the fact that they now find it "surprising" that there’s an issue.
Simple engagement with the local community (traders, parents, etc) prior to implementation would have highlighted the issues which are now surfacing. The fact it never crossed the minds (or was never considered) that painting the polka dot settings in bold colourful colours like a playground setting would create the child safety hazards, exposes the councils' lack of due diligence in project planning and non existent level of community engagement prior.
This highlights clearly that council simply based the project off the concept from Auckland (with no consideration of the existing complexities of Yarraville village setting or engagement), with poor project planning and - all leading to the local communities' health and wellbeing being put at heightened risk - and still adamant on pushing through with this dangerous setting at all costs.
We would again highlight that the Auckland installations were so ineffective, that they had one of polka dot settings removed because of mass confusion about right of way and only led to a 5% reduction in speed limits.
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The petition and community advocates have explained in greater detail (in previous updates on the petition page) how the evidence base doesn’t stack up at all (we pull apart the Auckland project), we continually refute the FAQ points on the council project page and continually are reporting on new incidents being provided to us and the media.
As council continues to attempt to substantiate this project through the media and in their FAQ section on the council website, this petition will be there at every step – with our media partners – to refute, factcheck and pull apart the basis of this project from continuing.