The purpose of this consultation is to present for community input a series of potential future road safety and streetscape projects in the Clunes township. This is the second and final stage of the Fraser Street Island trial consultation which took place in 2024.

Since the initial consultation, Council have been working to refine a series of road safety options for Fraser Street and have broadened the scope of the consultation to other intersections in the area.

These projects have been identified through:

• Comments on trial installation of islands in Fraser Street
• Clunes Strategic plans
• Hepburn Shire Streetscapes 2012
• Queens Park Masterplan
• Service request to Council
• Various Council Strategies.

From the first round of community consultation there was an overwhelming concern regarding the cost of road safety projects being borne by Council and ratepayers. Road safety projects form a significant part of both State and Federal agency’s long-term goals, such as the “Towards Zero" campaign. Council is often eligible for grant funding that covers the majority of the project costs where projects align with program targets and have public support

Council has a one-off external grant funding opportunity targeting road and pedestrian safety on roads managed by Council. Should there be a favourable outcome from public consultations, this funding would likely go towards works on Ligar Street and Fraser Street in the 2025/26 financial year. If community input does not identify a project supported by the majority, the external funding will be guided to other parts of the Shire where supported projects have been identified.

The intersections on Bailey Street are Regional Roads Victoria managed and not eligible for immediate funding, however if generally supported by the community, Council would seek alternative external funding in the future and engage with the road manager to progress the concepts.

The five areas identified are:

• Speed reduction to 40km/h zone through the centre of Clunes
• Templeton Street and Bailey Street intersection
• Service Street and Bailey Street intersection
• Ligar Street Precinct
• Fraser Street and Service Street intersection.

A paper set of consultation plans will be available for view at The Warehouse Clunes during opening hours.

Council is developing the next stages of the Clunes Streetscape project. After calls from the community for a safer pedestrian crossing in the township and a review of the intersection of Fraser and Service Streets in Clunes, we will be installing pedestrian outstands as a trial safety measure. The “pin down” islands will form refuge points for pedestrians crossing the road and will reduce the open crossing length from the current 22 metres to around 11 metres. A lighting upgrade of new streetlights at the pedestrian crossing (supermarket and creek side of the intersection) will improve visibility. Some temporary landscaping improvements will also be done.

The project aims to:

The fully removable islands made from recycled rubber are quick to install and will be in place for a trial period (until 4 August 2024). Community feedback will help to determine whether a permanent solution is required.

Council is proposing a multistage process:

Stage 1 - Installation of outstands on Wednesday 8 May.

Stage 2 - Have your say – we will be calling for community feedback in July on the effectiveness of the crossing.

Stage 3 - Review and report.

Stage 4 - We will progress the project dependent on the outcome of community feedback.

Treatments in other historic townships - Maldon and Beechworth

Community feedback will be reviewed and Council will report back on the outcome.