Mount Alexander Shire Council has pitched its weight behind residents’ calls for safety upgrades at the Castlemaine intersection of the Pyrenees Highway and Sawmill Road, scene of several accidents including one fatality in recent times.
The council had last month received a petition from residents raising concerns about the intersection and demanding action to improve safety there, and the matter went before the council for a decision at its September meeting.
Local ward councillor Matthew Driscoll noted that the residents’ petition highlighted “several accidents over the past couple of years” while also noting an increase in traffic generated from Castlemaine’s Don KR factory, Amicus Respite centre and McDonalds honey.
There has been one recorded casualty crash at the intersection in the last six years and two customer requests for maintenance works there, in the past two years, councillors heard.
At last month’s meeting they were tasked with deciding whether to support an officer recommendation to approve initial works to straighten the Sawmill Road alignment by reshaping drains, creating mulched garden beds for tree planting, installing signage and additional white posts, and supporting future capital work improvements there as well.
The Pyrenees Highway is the responsibility of the Department of Transport and the intersection in within a 100 kmh speed zone, councillors heard.
The local ward councillor Cr Matthew Driscoll moved in favour of the recommendation stating that several residents had approached him in person to raise concerns around the need to improve safety at the intersection.
“I’ve had several people come to me,” Cr Driscoll said.
“Residents are generally most concerned with the entry onto the Pyrenees Highway and how vehicles are shortcutting the intersection to get onto the highway.
“The residents would like the bell mouth of the intersection sealed and bollards or barriers installed to prevent this shortcutting form occurring.
“The traffic volumes using the intersection averages 110 vehicles per day with nearly fifty percent of this volume turning off at Melissa Court.”
Cr Gary McClure seconded Cr Driscoll’s motion in favour of backing the residents’ calls for safety improvements with the move then winning unanimous support around the council table.