Zoe Moffatt
Macedon Ranges residents will be able to voice their opinion on the future of the traffic network in Kyneton, with a notable uplift in traffic volumes forecast within the next 17 years.
At a meeting on March 27, Macedon Ranges council endorsed the release of the draft study for six weeks of consultation beginning in April.
The study found a notable uplift in traffic volumes forecast in the Kyneton region to 2041 during the peak period of 3pm to 6pm, and noticeable congestion in parts of the network in the future baseline scenario, most significantly on Mollison Street
It also found the Edgecombe Street connection (once the bridge is built) would be well utilised as it becomes the key north-south corridor, along with Mollison Street.
Council said the two future network scenarios would result in significant congestion relief on Mollison Street, given that part of the north-south traffic is redistributed to Edgecombe Street.
Speaking to the motion, Cr Mark Ridgeway said the study had been long awaited but he still had some questions.
“There’s bound to be a lot of interest in it and we’re expecting quite a bit of feedback on the study,” Cr Ridgeway said.
“[The study] does get very technical in places, there are certainly things in there which I still have question marks over and I’m sure there will be the same from other people
“But I think at the end of the day, it’s something we’ve been waiting for for a very long time and it’s important to get it out.”
It was also resolved to separate the process of the movement network study from the Kyneton Urban Design Framework, which Cr Ridgeway said he was pleased about.
“It was stuck in a bit of limbo while that was going through its motions,” he said.
“So this will help expedite the whole process of our strategic planning… eventually around the Kyneton South area which has also been stuck in limbo until some of these pieces of work have been completed.”
