A new Macedon Ranges Shire Council road safety strategy aims for a zero road toll in the shire and to reduce wildlife trauma.
The Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-2032 and its action plan have been designed to support the vision of both the Macedon Ranges and the State Government to work towards reducing fatalities and crash injuries within the shire.
It was also developed with non-vehicle road user considerations in mind and targets a reduction in wildlife road trauma.
Councillors adopted the draft strategy at its December meeting with no opposition.
Cr Janet Pearce said while the strategy had been in the works for some time, council was ‘pleased’ to see it come to fruition.
“I think one of the big points is that we recognise the environment, we recognise the position we are [in] with the peri-urban and also regional area that we are,” she said.
“If we feel that there are points in here that need to be addressed, it’s making sure that we do advocate and that we are continually telling our residents when there are complaints or concerns about things that might not be council’s responsibility, but we inform them who to notify.”
The strategy was designed with four safe system key principles in focus, those being safer roads, safer speeds, safer people and safer vehicles – all of which serve to promote better habits and create useful knowledge about minimising risks when using roads.
The strategy also recognises the importance of supporting active transport such as walking and cycling, working with road safety partners such as police, listening to and engaging with the community, and considering wildlife safety.
Cr Christine Walker, who commenced her role in November 2023, said she was impressed by the strategy’s development and proud to see it in action.
“As a new councillor, I was very impressed with this document because I think it’s one of the things that occurs in the background that makes a change and difference to our residents,” she said.
“It represents an enormous amount of work that is ultimately about the safety of our community, so I think it’s a very important document and I’m very proud of council for having generated it over the past few years, it’s a very impressive thing.”
Cr Geoff Neill also said he was proud that council was aspiring to achieve zero road deaths over the coming years.
