General News
9 March, 2022
Council ‘limited’ on Taverner Street action
Councillors have moved to accept a letter from a concerned resident regarding truck use along Taverner Street in Rainbow.
HINDMARSH Shire Council councillors have moved to accept a letter from a concerned resident regarding truck use along Taverner Street in Rainbow.
Councillors met during a council meeting on March 2 where they moved to note correspondence from Rainbow resident Anne Simms received on Febraury 12.
Concerns were first raised to council in August and September last year about pedestrian safety plus alleged damage to homes, noise and air pollution along Taverner Street.
This led council to compile traffic data over a three week period from October 6 which recorded 7,940 vehicles on Taverner Street North and 7,352 on Taverner Street South.
Out of those, there were a total of 218 heavy vehicles and a total of 85 vehicles, including two trucks, were found to be speeding.
However, council’s infrastructure director Angela Hoy said council was limited in addressing residents’ concerns over the road.
“Council has no control over roads that are not council owned or operated, this includes emissions and noise - that is covered by the Environment Protection Authority,” she said.
“Same thing with respect to damage to any property caused by a road not owned or operated by council. It is their responsibility and they should be speaking to VicRoads about that.
“What council can do is advocate for changes which is what we’ve done before.
“We will certainly continue to advocate because safety is of concern to us especially with the school being in that area.”
Council chief executive Greg Wood told councillors that council is limited on resolving the issue as the road is owned and operated by VicRoads.
He said he encouraged residents concerned about road issues to attend community consultations in order to identify and address concerns.
“Inevitably this particular issue comes up and it's a useful way for people concerned about road issues to try and understand the differences,” he said.
A bypass, which was raised in Ms Simms’ letter, was discussed by councillors as a potential solution.
However, council’s report stated that an alternative route would not suite current truck movements and the costs to fund a VicRoads road.
Mr Woods said that Rainbow bypass would not be feasible in the short term.
“The use of the roads could be changed but I think we need to be under no illusions about an alternative route,” he said.
“We’re looking at 20 or 30 years minimum before there is an alternative route for trucks in Nhill. The prospect of an alternative route for Rainbow is looking a century away I would suggest.
“While you can restrict trucks if there is an alternative (route) the chance of VicRoads or the state government saying this is a high priority is pretty slim.
“I think we have to be realistic. We have discussed a bypass at Nhill. It’s not even on their long-term plans. They’re prepared to talk about it in 20 or 30 years - it could come sooner, things change - but obviously more trucks go through the main street of Nhill than go through Taverner Street in Rainbow.
“We’d be looking at (for a basic detour) about a $1M per kilometre so the chances of that being a high enough priority for council to fund 10 to 15 kilometres worth of roads I would think is pretty remote.
“We’d certainly be hesitant to take on what is currently a VicRoads responsibility and make it ours.”
Deputy mayor councillor Brett Ireland said residents still concerned about the road could submit a complaint to VicRoads.
“I suggest the best way to go is to get letters sent to VicRoads. 30 single letters with one signature carries far more weight than one letter with 30 signatures,” he said.