Angela Crawford
A new housing development in Harts Lane, Kyneton, has the potential to result in a serious road accident, nearby residents fear.
A nine-lot subdivision approved by Macedon Ranges Shire Council proposes an access road positioned downhill from a steep rise on Harts Lane, where the current speed limit is 100km/h.
The residents say it risks a collision between vehicles exiting the subdivision and fast-moving traffic coming over the rise towards them.
“To brake from 100km/h, it takes about 98 metres, that’s on a flat dry road, but a wet sloping road you could probably add another 20 or 30 metres to that,” local resident Gerald Swinnerton said.
“We’ve spent a lot of time putting up suggestions to relocate the access road and we’ve been totally ignored.
“(The council has) acknowledged that we’ve sent them information but they haven’t spoken to the recommendations and suggestions that we made in any way at all.”
The residents say Harts Lane carries a large amount of ‘cut-through’ traffic and the development will only add to this. They say the intersection of Harts Lane and Burton Avenue is already dangerous with no turn off from Burton Avenue and a speed limit of 100km/h on both roads.
“The left-hand turn into Harts Lane needs to be made more friendly, the speed limit’s too high, we need to have 60km/h not 100,” resident Ann Gilbert said.
Council’s director of planning and environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said six objections had been received in response to the application.
“The application was referred to the Department of Transport and reviewed by council’s engineers,” Ms Stockfeld said.
“The Department of Transport and council engineers recommended conditions contained in the Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit that address road safety and traffic management.”
Recommended conditions include an upgrade to the intersection of Burton Avenue and Harts Lane and a reduction in the speed limit on Burton Avenue to 80km/h.
Ms Stockfeld said that while council had made a decision to issue a planning permit for the subdivision, concerned parties could challenge the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The rate paying residents of Harts Lane, however, say they cannot justify the significant legal fees that action would require.
“Such costs could have been avoided has the Shire of Macedon Ranges had the courtesy to answer our objections,” Mr Swinnerton said.
“This looks like a ploy by the council to avoid scrutiny.”
