By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Rerouting traffic is part of a “can of worms” debate on revitalising central Geelong, according to city leaders.
The city needed a “critical conversation” about transport issues, Central Geelong Action Plan
manager Hilary Rutledge told a business breakfast last week.
Ms Rutledge said a successful greening of Malop Street raised the issue of vehicle movements in the city’s bay end.
“Eastern Beach Road and Western Beach Road has 15,000 vehicles a day travelling in that zone,” she told the Geelong Business Network event at Little Creatures on Thursday 19 November.
“If we were designing a new suburb we’d be talking a four lane divided road with a median strip.
“Is that really the level of amenity we want in the most fantastic and significant social space we have in the city?
“The Malop Street vision is of a green spine with pedestrians a priority and a high level of bike provision but we’ve got nearly 10,000 vehicles per day that run along that street.
“The green spine vision isn’t compatible with how some of these existing transport functions work.
“It’s a difficult conversation for the community but it’s the one we need to have if we’re to unlock the potential of the city.”
Ms Rutledge said the debate related to freight and public transport as well as cars.
“Nineteen of our bus services run through the Moorabool Street interchange. There’s a real question of the compatibility with an al fresco dining setting.”
Geelong Authority chair Peter Dorling said Geelong been too timid for difficult debates.
“Let’s get the debate happening, get it on the table. If that means rerouting some traffic around central Geelong then let’s do it,” Mr Dorling said.
“Malop Street’s a totally different street than six months ago with the trucks gone and the recent work done.”
