Macedon Ranges council is driving towards its aim of zero road deaths and serious injuries through its draft mobility and road safety strategy.
Council approved the draft plan to be released for four weeks of community consultation at its meeting on July 26.
The draft mobility and road safety strategy 2023-32 is based on the four safe system key principles of safe roads, speeds, people and vehicles.
The strategy also recognises the importance of supporting active transport, working with road safety partners and the community, while considering wildlife safety.
Councillor Janet Pearce said the strategy is very important and involves more than just motor vehicles.
“[The strategy] has taken a while and that’s because it is so broad because this involved so much,” Cr Pearce said.
“It is a mobility and road safety strategy and we know pedestrian, cycling, all the forms of mobility that are coming in, and those to come, are so important.
“The strategy, the action plan, its connecting to all of our council, our council plan, our council prioritise, and I think the themes are very concise.”
Cr Mark Ridgeway echoed Cr Pearce’s comments and said he is very excited about the strategy, which was formulated with the input of more than 500 community responses.
“I think it will help address a lot of concerns that have been raised with me in recent times, over the state of our roads and our footpaths,” Cr Ridgeway said.
“[We now have] bicycles, we’ve got mobility scooters … we’ve got all sorts of things and ways and means of people trying to get around our townships
“We also have to deal with kangaroos, with wombats, with ducks, with geese on our roads.
“All of these are concerns and all of these need to be taken into account with the design and layout of our towns.”
This strategy follows 2021 community consultation and the main issues identified, including; road conditions, lack of footpaths, pedestrian crossings, and cycling facilities, safety of walking and cycling, and concerns for wildlife safety.
Zoe Moffatt
