Project Update - November 2023
Notice of Motion (NoM) 581 for the Werribee City Centre was initially raised at the Council Meeting held on 5 March 2019 and reported to Council in September 2019. As noted in the report, it was based on a set of key principles for the Werribee City Centre including:
- Improved safety for all road users – aligning with the Wyndham’s Integrated Transport strategy and improve safety for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.
- Minimise traffic Impacts on local and City Centre streets - aligning with Wyndham’s Integrated Transport strategy and minimise traffic impacts and delays created to local and City Centre streets.
- Maintain permeability – don’t create severance in the precinct
- Parking consolidation – aligning with the Werribee City Centre Parking Strategy and support
- the future consolidation of parking in the City Centre.
- Economic prosperity – create an environment that is supportive of business and customers
The NoM also included a list of actions including an independent review of sight lines along Synnot Street which was conducted to identify potential safety issues at driveway exit points from abutting commercial properties, including car parks.
The review considered the driver sight lines under the current 60km/h speed limit, as well as 50km/h and 40 km/h, as a reduction in speed limit reduces the sight lines required, and in turn the number of on-street car parks impacted. Sight lines are assessed in accordance with Australian Standards.
From the investigation, it was identified that in order to meet the standards:
While parking supply is always considered to be a premium in the Werribee City Centre, it is proposed that it should not compromise safety, and any legacy issues that exist in the network should be raised and addressed to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorists in our City.
In light of this, community consultation was undertaken for the removal of parking spaces on Synnot Street to improve sight lines and safety and a proposed reduction in the speed limit. The consultation included details of the investigation and findings in relation to safety, and also acknowledged the previously approved principles in the Notice of Motion including:
- Parking consolidation – aligning with the Werribee City Centre Parking Strategy and support the future consolidation of parking in the City Centre, and
- Improved safety for all road users – aligning with the Wyndham’s Integrated Transport strategy and improve safety for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.
The proposal to adopt the 50km/h option acknowledges that while in some City Centres a speed limit of 40km/h may be adopted for high pedestrian traffic areas, Synnot Street is also functioning as a Declared Main Road and as such also provides a traffic movement function. Lowering to 50 km/h is therefore proposed as a measured balance that minimises the number of parking bays to be removed and also provides a significant improvement in safety.
Consultation took place via a letter drop and online on The Loop.
Community consultation revealed that a number of respondents raised concerns around the perceived impact on travel time relating to a lowering of the speed limit on Synott Street, rather than removal of the parking spaces themselves.
Following community consultation, this matter was reported to Council at the 26 April 2023 Council Meeting. At this meeting it was noted that keeping the nominated 16 on street car parking spaces was deemed to be outside of Council’s risk appetite due to safety concerns associated with insufficient sight lines of oncoming traffic.
Because of this, it was advised that the nominated parking spaces will be removed and an application will be made to the State to lower the speed limit to 50km/h along Synnot Street. Lowering the speed limit will not only improve general safety at the Werribee City Centre, but it will also reduce the number of on street parking spaces that require removal as the current 60 km/h speed limit would require the removal of 23 on street parking spaces.
Council acknowledges that on-street car parking is valued, however the associated risks at the nominated locations poses an unacceptable safety risk. It is proposed that the on-street parking spaces will be removed within the next month or two.
The proposed 50km/h speed limit reduction is currently under review by the State.
Letters have been sent to Synnot Street businesses and Business Associations. Council is proceeding with the removal of the parking spaces and progressed an application to reduce the speed limit to 50km/h.
Once approved, the speed limit reduction will be implemented.
Making Synnot Street Safer
Since 2019, we've been working to improve traffic safety, congestion and traffic movement in and around the Werribee City Centre.
After receiving feedback around safety issues on Synnot Street, an independent audit review was undertaken of sight lines along Synnot Street in Werribee in accordance with Australian Standards.
The audit found that to meet Australian Standards of traffic safety:
- Under the current 60km/h speed limit, 23 parking spaces would need to be removed
- Under a 50km/h speed limit, 16 parking spaces would need to be removed
- Under a 40km/h speed limit, 13 parking spaces would need to be removed.
Areas assessed for safety included driveway exit points next to retail and service providers and car parks located next to these areas of concern.
The review considered the driver sight lines under the current 60km/h speed limit and how a reduction in the speed limit can influence safer sight lines. The review found that the number of on street car parks affected a driver’s line of sight and resulted in safety issues, as parked cars restricted the visibility drivers need to make a judgement on whether it is safe to exit a car park and whether there is a sufficient break in traffic to do so.
To improve the issues highlighted in the audit, we're proposing two changes to Synnot street to keep our city centre safe.
What's changing?
What's changing?
Reducing the speed limit to 50km/h and removing 16 parking spaces is the option considered by Council officers to achieve the best balance and keep Synnot Street safe.
Why two changes?
Why two changes?
Both of these changes need to be delivered together to ensure the road safety in the area is improved to meet Australian Standards.
If the speed limit along Synnot Street stays the same (currently 60km/h), additional car parks would need to be removed.
While parking supply is always considered to be a premium in the Werribee City Centre, it is important that it should never compromise safety. It's time to address the legacy issues that exist in our road network to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorists in our City.
The traffic changes are expected to make travel and parking safer around the busy Werribee City Centre where there is a mixture of traffic, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Where are the car parks proposed to be removed?
Where are the 16 car parks located which are proposed to be removed?
Get involved
We want you to tell us your thoughts on our proposed changes to remove 16 car parking spaces along Synnot Street and lower the speed limit to 50km/h in order to address current safety issues and increase visibility and improve line of sight.
All feedback will be considered and reported back to Council in early 2023 when a formal decision will be made to inform next steps to improve safety. It is noted that a change of speed limit would also be subject to additional government approvals.
Provide your feedback below before Sunday 8 January 2023.
