Residential Street Improvement Program
Maribyrnong Avenue, Kaleen
Stage 2 community consultation results
1.0 Consultation Overview
Stage 2 community consultation ran for ten weeks between 25 November 2013 and 31 January 2014 and a total of 488 people participated in the consultation process, including surveys, emails and attendance at the information sessions. Please note that some people may have participated more than once.
Activity Summary
Table 1: Stage 2 Consultation Activities
Activity / Audience / Nature / Date / Location /Stakeholder letters/submission capacity / Targeted stakeholders / Letters sent to stakeholders advising of the process and seeking submissions / 25 November 2013 / Traditional mail
‘Drop in’ information sessions / Residents and the local community / Provide an opportunity to ask for further information from technical specialists and the project team or give feedback. Project information was available for viewing / Saturday, 7 December,
10am – 12pm
Saturday 14 December,
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Thursday 19 December,
5pm – 7pm / Kaleen Plaza on Georgina Crescent, Kaleen
Survey (online and hard copy) / Residents of Kaleen, Giralang and the broader community / Collect feedback on the proposed improvements through online survey on Time to Talk, and hard copy surveys / Throughout consultation period / Website, letterbox dropped, information session, local library
Direct contact / Residents and the local community / Direct discussions with community members (notes taken via phone) and receiving of emails / Throughout consultation period / AECOM email address and phone number
Stakeholder Letters
Letters were sent to stakeholders advising them of the consultation process, inviting them to give feedback and giving them details about the information session. Stakeholders included Living Streets Canberra, NRMA Motoring and Services, Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT, ACT Emergency Services, ACTION and Pedal Power, as well as Kaleen Primary School, Maribyrnong Primary School, St Michael’s Primary School, Kaleen High School and Belconnen Community Council.
Webpage Information
Project information was included on the ACT Government’s Time to Talk website along with a link to the online survey, contact information for feedback and details of the consultation.
Project Fact Sheet
A project fact sheet was created that included the project background and an explanation of the public consultation and feedback mechanisms. This information was presented on a colour A3 (folded into A4) sheet with a map highlighting options for traffic calming.
Survey
A feedback survey was created to collect feedback, gauge community priority factors and capture comments. The questions gathered basic demographic information and prompted participants to provide general feedback on Maribyrnong Avenue issues and the consultation process. Hard copies of the survey were letterbox dropped to residents in Kaleen and Giralang with a reply paid envelope to encourage increased numbers of responses. A link to the survey was placed on Survey Monkey and the Time to Talk website. Hard copies received were entered into the electronic system by AECOM staff.
Advertising
The public consultation period was advertised through the ACT Government sponsored Community Noticeboard in the Canberra Times throughout the engagement. The advertisements promoted the consultation period and feedback mechanisms and directed people to the Time to Talk website to find out more information.
Posters and Maps
Posters and maps were provided at the information sessions which outlined details about the consultation, traffic speed, crash and volume data, Google earth images for context and a preliminary overview of the feedback received to date from the community. These were in colour A0 and A1 size posters. They were designed as a tool for technical specialists at the information session to discuss feedback ‘on the spot’ with the community.
Letterbox Drop
A letterbox drop of the project fact sheet and hard copy survey was delivered in Kaleen and Giralang.
Media Coverage
A media release outlined the project and accompanying consultation period.
Enquiry and Correspondence Management
The mechanisms utilised to facilitate contact between the public and the project team included:
Phone – a project team member’s phone number was provided on the consultation material so that interested individuals could raise questions and concerns.
Email – the email address, was provided to enable feedback via the Internet.
Survey – the link to the feedback survey was provided via the Survey Monkey, Time to Talk webpage and within project advertisements to encourage completion of the survey.
Information sessions – 3 information sessions were held at Kaleen Shops on Georgina Crescent, Kaleen on the 7, 14 and 19 December 2013.
2.0 Feedback
There were 282 surveys completed, 12 emails, one phone submission, and 193 people attended the information sessions. By combining the feedback mechanisms, a total of 488 people participated.
Several themes emerged regarding the consultation feedback. Feedback has been grouped into themes for each feedback mechanism and outlined in the following tables.
Information Session Feedback
A total of 193 people attended the three sessions held on 7, 12 and 18 December 2013. Table 1 highlights numbers of those that actively asked questions and wanted to be briefed at the sessions. A summary of feedback received from the session is outlined in Table 2.
Table 1: Stage 2 Dates and Numbers of Attendance for Sessions: RSI Study Attendance figures at Consultations
Date / Attendance7 December 2013 / 77
12 December 2013 / 80
18 December 2013 / 36
Total / 193
Table 2: Stage 2 information session feedback
Theme / Community Issues Identified /Speed Cushions / · Not a lot of support for speed cushions – some people were supportive along Onkaparinga Crescent and Staaten Crescent.
Cycling Lane / · The need for cycling to be considered in the designs is mentioned a number of times.
Pedestrian Safety / · More pedestrian crossings/refuges are wanted especially across Maribyrnong Avenue – there is no specific pattern of requests to indicate where these should be.
Bus Bays / · Including a dedicated bus bay near Onkaparinga Crescent and Staaten Crescent in order to decrease bottle necking.
· Narrowing of road is not popular but is seems that people do not fully understand what this option means.
60km/h on Baldwin / · General support for making speed limits on Baldwin Drive consistent – either be 60km/h or 80 km/h but not a variety. Preferences lean towards shifting the sign for 60km/h further south towards Ginninderra Drive.
Survey Feedback
282 surveys were received. Feedback received from the surveys is outlined in Table 3.
Table 3: Stage 2 survey feedback
Question / Community feedback1. What street and suburb do you live in? / The top streets where respondents lived were Other (80.9%), Onkaparinga Crescent (6.5%) and Maribyrnong Avenue (3.7%).
The top suburbs were Kaleen (78.2%) and Giralang (20.0%).
2. Do you generally support the proposed traffic calming measures on Maribyrnong Avenue and surrounding streets? / Yes (58.0%), No (28.8%), Unsure (13.1%)
3. If you would like to suggest a change to the proposed scheme, please name the street and treatment(s), and provide your reason. / 190 people responded to this question. The main concerns for Maribyrnong were speed bumps, pedestrian crossings, lane narrowing, traffic lights and bus stops.
Top changes that are generally supported by the community (in no particular order) are:
• modify existing pedestrian signals to include the intersection of Maribyrnong Avenue/Alberga Street (east)
• raised pedestrian crossing at the shops near Georgina Crescent is supported
• pedestrian refuges at bus stops near: - path to Darby Street - path to Cloncurry Street
• pedestrian refuge at bus stop on Ellenborough Street near path to Oakover Circuit is supported
• modify existing roundabout at intersection of Maribyrnong Avenue/Ellenborough Street to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
• right turn lanes at intersections with Daintree Crescent, Tyrrell Circuit and Onkaparinga Crescent (west) – solid support
• the need for bus slip lanes in order to reduce congestion and danger from people overtaking dangerously
• extend 60km/h zone on Ginninderra Drive
• pedestrian crossing facilities at Braybrooke Street/Ginninderra Drive traffic signals and pathway link to existing paths north of here.
Changes that are not supported by the community:
• lane narrowing was not supported on Ellenborough Street and Maribyrnong Avenue, as people were concerned about how this interacted with their request for bus slip lanes
• mini roundabout at intersection with Daintree Crescent.
“I say NO to mini roundabouts and lane narrowing on the two main roads.”
“Any traffic calming on Maribyrnong Avenue between the two ends of Staaten crescent will result in traffic rat running through Staaten Crescent. I have already witnessed vehicles speed through Staaten to get in front of vehicles on Maribyrnong Avenue. Extension of the 60kph zone towards Bruce will make little difference to the speed of traffic along Baldwin Drive. Travelling this road twice a day the majority of cars on this road attempt to travel at 80kph from end to end. More policing is required”
“I think the proposal of 4 speed cushions or cushions in Onkaparinga Crescent is excessive. I have lived in Bunnett for 30yrs and commute daily by car or bicycle on Onkaparinga Crescent and have not experienced any concerns about cars speeding on this street. Alleged speeding in Ashburton Circuit/Maribyrnong Avenue does not seem to warrant any speed bumps in the proposed plan, so why single out Onkaparinga Crescent in this way??”
“I am not happy with the proposed narrowing of Maribyrnong Avenue. Speeding during the day is not an issue along this road although it is an issue during late evening and night. Narrowing will cause frustration for drivers especially if they are stuck behind a bus and speeders will just ignore line markings. Therefore I cannot see any justification for narrowing Maribyrnong Avenue.”
“No round about at the corner of Georgina Crescent and Maribyrnong Avenue. Not required, as usually the traffic flow is not high. No round about at Onkaparinga Crescent but a make a right hand turning lane instead and this would still allow traffic flow. No narrowing of Maribyrnong Avenue as at present if a car is turning right, then usually there is enough space for another car to continue on slowly and safely. Make all of Baldwin Drive 60km/h to Ginninderra Drive because too many changes of speed limits is difficult and confusing for drivers.”
“Leave it alone except for maybe the new pedestrian crossing. If you narrow Maribyrnong Avenue then every time a bus stops all traffic behind it will stop. They will probably continue behind it the full length of the street.”
“I think the roundabout at Diamantina Crescent/Maribyrnong Avenue is unnecessary (this has not been listed as an area of concern and would slow traffic more than speed it up). Traffic lights at Alberga Maribyrnong Avenue intersection would be overkill. I've never had a problem here walking or driving in 20yrs. I would suggest an extra pedestrian crossing at most.”
4. Do you think there should be treatments on any other streets? If so, please provide the name of the street(s). / Yes (41.6%), No (58.4)
240 people responded to this question. The main streets of concern were Baldwin Drive, Staaten Crescent, Ashburton Circuit, Daintree Crescent and Ellenborough Street. Many individuals highlighted that speed and traffic were of primary concern.
Top changes that are supported by the community are (in no order):
• bigger and more 60km/h signs in Baldwin Drive, to avoid people speeding
• avoid Staaten Crescent from becoming short cut to Maribyrnong Avenue
• ensure school crossing and possibly a speed cushion, on Ashburton Circuit and Daintree Crescent in order to avoid speeding around schools
• speed cushion near Oakover Circuit to slow traffic
• Ellenborough Street to have shoulders and full double white lines from Barton Highway to Maribyrnong Avenue.
Changes that are not supported by the community:
1. unecessary amount of speed cushions.
“Maribyrnong Avenue - extend the left hand lane to turn into Baldwin Drive to avoid bottlenecks caused by people wanting to turn right.”
“Baldwin Drive, Speed measures indicators, bigger 60kph zone signs (people are always speeding at 80kph here)”
“Staaten Crescent: used as a "short cut" by traffic at relatively high speeds. A couple of bumps one either side of the bend would improve it”
“Staaten Crescent, It’s used as a short cut to the shops and has a sharp bend. Very dangerous.”
“Ashburton Crescent outside school on crossing cushion pedestrian crossing save our children from speeding cars.”
“Ashburton Crescent install either pedestrian refuge or raised crossing for school.”
“Daintree Crescent - A speed bump please around Oakover Circuit.”
“Ellenborough Street - Full double white lines from Barton Highway to Maribyrnong Avenue. People overtake often.”
“Ellenborough Street should have shoulders.”
5. Nominate three treatments in this scheme which you believe should have the highest priority for implementation. Please indicate the street, intersecting street (if referring to an intersection) and treatment. / 185 people responded to this question.
Of those that responded, 43.8% chose mini roundabouts as their highest priority treatment. An additional 33% of respondents spread their priority between speed cushions (9.1%), right turn lane (8.5%), pedestrian facilities at signals (8.0%) and raised pedestrian crossing (7.4%). The remaining treatments had less than 7% support for priority treatment.
Respondents clearly identified their priority street for treatment as Maribyrnong Avenue with 78.9% choosing it as their first preference. The majority of the remaining support (19.2%) evenly spread their choice between Baldwin Drive, Ellenborough Street and Onkaparinga Crescent.
The intersecting street most often chosen was Ashburton Circuit (37.1%). This was followed by Alberga Street (13.6%), Daintree Crescent (10.7%), Georgina Crescent (10.7%) and Ellenborough Street (10.0%).
Based on the feedback received the most mentioned treatments are (ranked from highest to lowest):
1. mini roundabout supported at Maribyrnong Avenue and Ashburton Circuit (22.2%)
2. modify signals at Maribyrnong Avenue and Alberga Street (4.7%)
3. mini roundabout not supported at Ellenborough Street and Daintree Crescent (4.7%)
4. extend 60km/h zone on Baldwin Drive (4.1%) supported.
6. Do you have any further comments about the proposed traffic calming measures? Please feel free to email comments to / 162 people responded to this question.