Community members are calling for urgent improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure at McKenzie Hill on the outskirts of Castlemaine following several near misses in recent months.
With ever-expanding housing developments sprawling across McKenzie Hill and consequently bringing a significant number of cars onto the Pyrenees Highway from Diamond Gully Road and other intersections local residents and cyclists say it’s only a matter of time before a cyclist is killed.
Rohan Wightman knows the dangers all too well having been struck by a car near the top of McKenzie Hill three years ago.
The regular bicycle commuter recently wrote to the Express voicing his concerns after another near miss on January 17 this year.
“I was riding my pushbike down McKenzie Hill about 7.40am. I was wearing a high vis vest and had a very bright flashing front light on a slightly overcast morning. As I got to Bulkeleys Road a white traffic control ute came out of Bulkeleys Rd forcing me to take high speed evasive action and I missed the ute by millimetres. The driver didn’t even stop to check if I was okay,” Wightman said.
“I was hit by a car while riding my bike in almost the same spot three years ago. I was sideswiped by a driver blinded by the morning sun. I was hospitalised followed that accident but fortunately was able to walk away.”
Mr Wightman and fellow cyclist and Cycle Safe Mount Alexander representative, Penny Gilbert, said there had been a lack of foresight around infrastructure for McKenzie Hill housing developments, which necessitates people driving their cars to town to shop rather than riding or walking, increasing probability of fatalities occurring.
“Motorists look for other cars but often fail to see cyclists, we urge people to be wary and take that extra moment or two to check for cyclists,” Ms Gilbert said.
They are calling on Mount Alexander Shire Council and the Department of Transport to build a permanent off-road bike track and footpath infrastructure for pedestrians. However, in the meantime they say some small changes could be made to build connections between the side streets down McKenzie Hill to allow cyclists to safely travel down McKenzie Hill and connect with existing bike lanes in the township.
Ms Gilbert said the floods in October had also severely damaged existing local cycling and walking tracks, forcing more commuters, school students and recreational cyclists onto roadways at McKenzie Hill and Campbells Creek.
“Many cyclists are being forced back onto the highways and if you are running late to meet a train or get to school it’s quicker to use the highway then off-road options,” Mr Wightman said.
Ms Gilbert said parents and up to 30 students from Castlemaine Steiner School would regularly ride into town on a Friday afternoon but damage from the floods, rains and recent works near the Castlemaine Golf Club had made the track impossible to traverse.
“Being active is so important for our mental state and ‘post-COVID’ we need as much activity as we can,” Ms Gilbert said.
Mount Alexander Shire Council said it was actively working towards improving road conditions for both cyclists and motorists in McKenzie Hill.
A council spokesperson said council was developing an ‘Active Transport Strategy’, a document that would help inform future developments to roads, paths and trails in the shire.
“The draft strategy has been informed by significant community consultation which was done over a five-month period and will be available for public review in the coming months. This document will give council a strategic position to advocate for state government infrastructure improvements – both for state-managed roads, and council-managed roads, tracks and trails,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is working with the Department of Transport and Planning, who manage the Pyrenees Highway, to identify opportunities to improve active transport options for residents in McKenzie Hill and Castlemaine.
“Council is also in the process of preparing designs to upgrade Ireland Street and Diamond Gully Road. This includes upgrades to the intersections of Pyrenees Highway, Ireland Street and Diamond Gully Road, as well as the development of a shared path.”
Community members can find out more about the upcoming designs for Diamond Gully Road and Ireland Street Precinct, McKenzie Hill at https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=3941
The Department of Transport and Planning confirmed it had identified a section of the Pyrenees Highway between McKenzie Hill and Castlemaine as part of a Strategic Cycling Corridor network.
Department of Transport and Planning regional director, Melanie Horton, said they were working with Mount Alexander Shire Council to plan for future pedestrian and cycling improvements in McKenzie Hill and Castlemaine.
“Our planning activities will investigate pedestrian and cycling improvements to provide more people with the option to leave their car at home as the McKenzie Hill area continues to grow,” Ms Horton said.
