Cr Sam Parasol OAM
Glen Eira City Council
PO Box 42
Caulfield South, VIC 3162
Email: SParasol@gleneira.vic.gov.au

Subject: Urgent Request for Traffic Safety Measures on Lumeah Road, Caulfield North

Dear Councillor Parasol,

We, the undersigned residents of Lumeah Road and surrounding streets, are writing to express our serious concerns regarding ongoing traffic issues in our street. Despite previous complaints raised by multiple residents, the council has yet to take meaningful action to address these concerns. We seek your assistance in lobbying the council to take urgent steps to improve safety and reduce the growing risk of accidents in our neighbourhood.

The primary issue is the increasing use of Lumeah Road as a cut-through for non-residents, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. Many drivers bypass major roads and traffic lights by using Lumeah Road to access Leibler Yavneh College, Melbourne Grammar, Caulfield Grammar, and Mount Scopus GBH Campus. This through traffic significantly increases congestion, particularly in the morning and afternoon peak periods, impacting local residents and raising safety concerns.

More concerning is the excessive speed at which many of these vehicles travel through our residential street. Despite being a quiet neighbourhood road, Lumeah has become a high-risk zone for pedestrians, especially young children walking to their local schools or bus stops. Residents have witnessed multiple near misses in recent months, and tragically, there has already been a pedestrian fatality at the intersection of Lumeah Road and Balaclava Road. We strongly believe that preventative measures must be implemented before another serious accident occurs.

Additionally, there have been several incidents of cars being sideswiped with no notes being left. Residents can provide photos of accidents in the street as well as security footage of cars speeding.

Another critical concern is the high level of construction in the street, which results in numerous tradespeople parking their trucks and vans along the road. While we acknowledge that nothing can be done about the presence of construction vehicles, and that this is not our primary concern, it does add to the overall risk when unnecessary cut-through traffic speeds through the street. In one alarming incident, a young girl was almost hit when crossing the road after stepping out from behind a parked truck. Fortunately, the driver in this case was not speeding and was able to brake just in time. Had the driver been speeding, as is common, the young girl would have been struck.

To address these issues, we propose the following measures be trailed for 12 months:

 

No Right Turn from Glen Eira Road into Lumeah Road During Peak Hours (e.g., 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM), similar to the restrictions on turning from Alma Road into Orrong Crescent. This would significantly reduce cut-through traffic and encourage drivers to remain on main roads.
Reduction of the Speed Limit to 30km/h to improve safety for pedestrians and reduce the risk of accidents.

After the 12-month trial period, a review should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of these measures. Implementing signage-based solutions first provides a cost-effective approach for the council, avoiding the immediate expense of more extensive traffic-calming infrastructure. Depending on the review outcomes, further measures may be considered if required.

We urge the council to take action before another accident occurs by reviewing these traffic concerns and implementing practical solutions to enhance safety and livability.

We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss these concerns further and explore the most effective solutions for implementation. Please advise on the next steps and the process involved in addressing these concerns so that we can work collaboratively towards a solution.

Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your support in making Lumeah Road a safer place for our community.

Yours sincerely,

Lumeah Road Residents