Friends of South Morang and Residents' Dispute with VicRoads and the Plenty Road Duplication Project

Help or Hindrance?

The Plenty Road duplication project was a major source of irritation and inconvenience for residents of Highview, Bellevue and Stagecoach estates in South Morang who believed their previous right of access was reduced by the project. After several public meetings, and direct lobbying of VicRoads and the local state member for Mill Park, the right hand turn was reinstated in 2009.

FOSM sincerely thanks Lily D'Ambrosio MP for her interest in this issue and for her direct intervention with VicRoads and the state Minister for Roads.

The concerns were:

1) No right turn access at Bellevue Boulevard

2) The traffic flow and safety at the Plenty Rd/Stagecoach Boulevard intersection

3) Increased traffic volumes and speeding on Stagecoach Boulevard

4) Emergency access to the estates

Sub-Committee formed

In October 2007, the Friends of South Morang Inc. facilitated a meeting between the VicRoads Project team and residents to discuss the relevant issues. A sub-committee of residents and FOSM members was formed to liaise directly with VicRoads.

VicRoads' response

VicRoads engaged an independent organisation in early 2008 to investigate the following options for access at Bellevue Boulevard

1. Install a right turn facility at Bellevue Boulevard

2. Install a U-turn facility north of Bellevue Boulevard

3. Utilise the signalised right turn facility to perform U-turns with modified signal phasing

4. Existing option - Utilise signalised right turn facility and local streets

Each of these options was scored and measured by the independent consultant against the criteria as shown in the Table on this page.

The results of this investigation were presented by VicRoads project officers to a meeting of the Friends of South Morang Inc and residents of the estates on the 14 August 2008.

In 2008 VicRoads accepted the recommendation of the consultant to proceed with the current arrangement, Option 3, to modify the signals at the Stagecoach Blvd intersection to remove the left turn overlap movement out of Stagecoach Blvd.

Residents and FOSM on the other hand, wanted option 1, namely the installation of an uncontrolled right turn facility at Bellevue Boulevard.

This is what was eventually achieved through a decision by the Minister for Roads and is yet another example of the power of community action.

Aerial view of entrance to Stagecoach Boulevard from Plenty Road

When the Plenty Road Duplication project was completed, residents lost a right hand turn access into Bellevue Boulevard. This was a major source of concern to residents who moved into the estate on the basis of the original access. Some residents believed this loss of access was costing them additional fuel and adding to greenhouse gas emissions because they had to travel further to access their homes.

Summary and scoring of the options

FOSM and residents were rightly concerned the criteria against which each option was scored were not given equal weight by the consultant and that an important criteria, namely community satisfaction was omitted, despite VicRoads commitment to community consultation. VicRoads believed that the community's concerns were captured by the Assessment Criteria.

Traffic flow figures

VicRoads said it had undertaken extensive consultation and communication activities with the local community to satisfy the needs of all stakeholders in relation to the Plenty Road Duplication Project including a community information evening held in August 2005, the establishment of the Community Consultative Group (CCG) in February 2006, key stakeholder briefings, and communication to the broader community ie project fact sheet, construction updates, regular newspaper advertisements

Emergency Vehicle Access to the estates

Residents at the meeting on the 14 August 2008 claimed they were not consulted about the emergency vehicle access to the estates via Bethany Court and its impact on their ability to park their own vehicles on the street. VicRoads admitted that emergency access to the estates under the new access arrangements was a concern raised by the residents at the FOSM meeting held on 11 October 2007 and that in response to this, agreed with emergency services and Whittlesea City Council to provide an alternative emergency access link at Bethany Court to enhance access arrangements. VicRoads monitored any potential obstruction of emergency services caused by parked cars at the new Bethany Court emergency services link. However, residents remained adament they were never consulted about the potential loss of on-street parking to make way for Emergency vehicle access.

Map of the estates

This map clearly identifies the problem facing residents of Bellevue estate who prior to the Duplication project had a right turn into Bellevue Boulevard and had to travel to the traffic light controlled intersection at Stagecoach Boulevard and complete a U-turn. Residents were rightly frustrated and angry that accessibility had been given less weight by VicRoads than adjusting the signal phasing of the traffic lights at Stagecoach Boulevard.

VicRoads Contact Details

Use this link to find out more about VicRoads response to this dispute with residents and the Friends of South Morang Inc.

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	Aerial view of entrance to Stagecoach Boulevard from Plenty Road When the Plenty Road Duplication project was completed, residents lost a right hand turn access into Bellevue Boulevard. This was a major source of concern to residents who moved into the estate on the basis of the original access. Some residents believed this loss of access was costing them additional fuel and adding to greenhouse gas emissions because they had to travel further to access their homes.
	Summary and scoring of the options FOSM and residents were rightly concerned the criteria against which each option was scored were not given equal weight by the consultant and that an important criteria, namely community satisfaction was omitted, despite VicRoads commitment to community consultation. VicRoads believed that the community's concerns were captured by the Assessment Criteria.
	Traffic flow figures VicRoads said it had undertaken extensive consultation and communication activities with the local community to satisfy the needs of all stakeholders in relation to the Plenty Road Duplication Project including a community information evening held in August 2005, the establishment of the Community Consultative Group (CCG) in February 2006, key stakeholder briefings, and communication to the broader community ie project fact sheet, construction updates, regular newspaper advertisements
	Emergency Vehicle Access to the estates Residents at the meeting on the 14 August 2008 claimed they were not consulted about the emergency vehicle access to the estates via Bethany Court and its impact on their ability to park their own vehicles on the street. VicRoads admitted that emergency access to the estates under the new access arrangements was a concern raised by the residents at the FOSM meeting held on 11 October 2007 and that in response to this, agreed with emergency services and Whittlesea City Council to provide an alternative emergency access link at Bethany Court to enhance access arrangements. VicRoads monitored any potential obstruction of emergency services caused by parked cars at the new Bethany Court emergency services link. However, residents remained adament they were never consulted about the potential loss of on-street parking to make way for Emergency vehicle access.
	Map of the estates This map clearly identifies the problem facing residents of Bellevue estate who prior to the Duplication project had a right turn into Bellevue Boulevard and had to travel to the traffic light controlled intersection at Stagecoach Boulevard and complete a U-turn. Residents were rightly frustrated and angry that accessibility had been given less weight by VicRoads than adjusting the signal phasing of the traffic lights at Stagecoach Boulevard.