Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

1.

PETITIONS AND JOINT LETTERS

1.1

RESPONSE TO PETITION: REQUEST TO REOPEN CLOSED

SECTION OF CAMPASPE STREET, ELMORE

Document Information
Author

Brett Martini, Manager Engineering and Public Space

Responsible
Director

Craig Lloyd, Director Presentation and Assets

Purpose
The purpose of this report is to provide a response to a petition submitted by residents in
the Elmore area concerned regarding the closure of a section of Campaspe Street,
Elmore between Clarke Street and Jeffrey Street.
Summary
Campaspe Street is an unsealed road that runs along the Campaspe River Reserve in
the township of Elmore. Following a complaint regarding dust in the area, the City of
Greater Bendigo (City) reviewed the role and function of this section of road.
Safety issues at the current configuration of the Campaspe and Jeffery Streets
intersection were identified during this review. This combined with the discovery that the
section of Campaspe Street between Jeffrey and Clarke Streets was located on the river
reserve and not a declared road, led the City to take steps to prohibit vehicle access from
Campaspe Street and Jeffrey Street across this section of the river reserve. This closure
is also expected to reduce through-traffic along Campaspe Street, therefore reducing
dust.
Public consultation was not required to install barriers of this nature as under the Road
Management Act 2004, this section is not a declared municipal road, but part of the river
reserve.
Following these works, broader community concerns were raised regarding the impact
this closure had on traffic movement and a petition was received by Council. Further
consideration has been given to issues raised by petitioners. However, given that a
suitable alternative to this section of Campaspe Street exists with negligible impact on
traffic, this treatment is still considered as the most cost effective to address issues of
dust from Campaspe Street and safety of the Jeffery Street and Campaspe Street
intersection.

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

RECOMMENDATION
That in response to the complaint regarding dust generated from the section of
Campaspe Street within the Campaspe River Reserve, and considering safety concerns
for the intersection of Campaspe and Jeffery Streets and alternative routes available,
Council endorse the closure of this section of the river reserve to traffic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Policy Context
Council Plan Reference:
City of Greater Bendigo Council Plan 2013-2017 (2016-2017 Update):
Theme 1

Leadership and Good Governance

Strategy 1.2

Maintain strong and positive relationships with the Federal

and State Government and relevant departments and
agencies, and advocate to ensure that the required
infrastructure, key projects, policies and services are in
place as our community grows.

Theme 3

Presentation and Vibrancy

Strategy 3.1

Greater Bendigo has attractive and accessible parks and

public places and streetscapes that are widely used and
enable people to be healthy and active.

Theme 5

Sustainability

Strategy 5.1

Protect and conserve Greater Bendigo's natural

environment and settings for the future.

Regional Strategic Plan Reference:

Elmore Community Plan 2015-2020:
Goal 2: Beautiful Built and Natural Environment
As a community, Elmore has identified the development, maintenance and rejuvenation
of the built and natural environments as a key to increasing community connectivity,
activity and prosperity. The Elmore community has identified the Campaspe River as a
key asset for local residents and a key attraction for visitors.
Our Objectives:
To develop, maintain, improve and rejuvenate open public spaces.
To continue to develop, improve and maintain the Campaspe River Reserve.
Background Information
The following petition was tabled at Council's Ordinary meeting on 12 October 2016
from concerned residents in the Elmore area, as outlined below:

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

"We, the undersigned residents and ratepayers of the City of Greater Bendigo,
formally request Council to reopen the section of Campaspe Street from Clarke
Street to the intersection of Campaspe Street and Jeffrey Street, Elmore."
The petition contained 167 signatures and Council resolved "that the petition be received
and a response be prepared within two (2) meetings."
Report
In December 2015, the City received a resident complaint regarding dust generated from
the gravel road at the rear of the properties fronting Jeffrey Street in Elmore. The gravel
road, known as Campaspe Street extends from Jeffrey Street in the south to Burnewang
Street at the north of the Elmore township.
While most of Campaspe Street is constructed within a road reserve, the section
between Jeffrey and Clarke Streets is not. This land is part of the Campaspe River
Reserve. Although the City has undertaken maintenance on this section of Campaspe
Street and has constructed a footpath along the Campaspe River, the Department of
Environment, Land, Water and Planning are the responsible land managers of the river
reserve.
Figure 1. Southern end of Campaspe Street:

In investigating the dust complaint, the role and dimensions of Campaspe, Jeffrey and
Clarke Streets were considered. The section of Campaspe Street between Jeffrey and
Clarke Streets does not provide access to any properties, with the only adjoining
property being land owned by the Department of Health and Human Services. The
closed section of Campaspe Street is approximately 220 metres long. The alternative
route via the sealed Jeffrey and Clarke Streets is 280 metres long. The seal width of
Jeffrey Street (between 14 and 16 metres wide) and Clarke Street (approximately 10.5

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

metres wide) is more than sufficient for general traffic as well as any farm machinery that
may need to travel through this area.
Given the minimal increase in travel distance and the sealed Jeffrey and Clarke Streets
suitability to handle commercial vehicles, it was considered that closure to traffic along
the section of the road through the Campaspe River Reserve would resolve the dust
complaint without inconveniencing traffic users.
Previous traffic counts show Jeffrey Street currently supports between 200-300 vehicles
per day with three to four percent of these being commercial vehicles. Traffic counts for
the section of Campaspe Street north of Childers Street show that Campaspe Street
supports around 40 vehicles per day. The diversion of this traffic around Jeffrey and
Clarke Streets is unlikely to impact significantly on traffic volumes.
The issue of dust generation from unsealed roads is not an isolated one, particularly
when weather has been dry. Residents often suggest sealing of an unsealed road to
reduce dust, however this treatment is not often cost effective as many traffic volumes
along unsealed roads do not warrant sealing. In those cases, it is not often that a
genuine alternative route exists to enable the City to encourage its use therefore
reducing dust production along the unsealed road. The closure of the southern end of
Campaspe Street will likely reduce traffic on the remaining gravel section, as more traffic
will use the sealed Jeffrey Street as an alternative, therefore reducing dust along the
length of Campaspe Street.
It was further identified through the analysis of Campaspe Street that the intersection of
Jeffery and Campaspe Streets was of poor alignment. Being a broad Y intersection, the
gravel surface of Campaspe Street provides inadequate delineation for safe traffic
movement. This combined with the negligible impact on traffic volume and travel time, a
decision was made to close this section of Campaspe Street to through traffic.
Whilst consultation or public notice was not required as this section of Campaspe Street
is not a 'road' within a road reserve, it is acknowledged that consultation would have
enabled users of this section of Campaspe Street the opportunity to provide comment on
the need to travel along this section of Campaspe Street as compared to Jeffery and
Clarke Streets.

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

Figure 2. Footpaths (green) in the vicinity of Jeffery Street:

In response to concerns about pedestrian safety and amenity, concrete and asphalt
footpaths, as detailed in green in Figure two, exist along Cardwell, Hervey, Clarke and
Jeffrey Streets, supporting students and residents to walk safely to nearby schools and
the river reserve.
Alternatively, if consideration was given to reopening the closed section of Campaspe
Street to traffic, the intersection should be realigned to provide a 90 degree intersection
with Jeffrey Street to improve safety. Figure three provides an example of this treatment
at an estimated cost of $25,000. These works would include extending the seal for ten
metres along Campaspe Street, installation of a drainage pipe and end-walls under the
newly sealed section, connection of the sealed section to the existing unsealed road and
an earth barrier to discourage traffic shortcutting the new intersection. To formalise the
City infrastructure on the river reserve, the City would also need to seek Committee of
Management status for this section of river reserve.

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

Figure 3. Proposed realignment of Campaspe Street and Jeffrey Street:

Consultation/Communication
As outlined, consultation was not undertaken prior to the closure of this section of
Campaspe Street.
Resource Implications
There has been minimal cost incurred with the installation of signage undertaken to date.
Should this signage be removed, the intersection of Campaspe and Jeffrey Streets
should be realigned. At an estimated cost of $25,000 this project would require
consideration under either the 2016/17 Mid-year budget process, or as a new Capital
project in the 2017/18 Council budget process.
Attachments
Nil.

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