Road share plan

By Melissa Grant
COUNCILLOR George Blenkhorn has called on his colleagues to consider integrating vehicle and foot traffic in Pakenham’s main shopping area.
Such a plan could see traditional footpaths, kerbs, designated crossing points and traffic signs removed from Pakenham’s Main and John streets.
Cr George Blenkhorn said the idea should be seriously considered after he visited Bendigo’s mall.
“It sounds crazy to have pedestrians and traffic mixed together but it’s working successfully,” he said.
“In the shared space areas in Bendigo, by using innovative road and urban design and the effect that has on behavioural psychology, they have succeeded in reducing the speed of the through traffic to such an extent that it was easy for the pedestrians to get along with motorists.
“The shared-space idea is something that should be seriously considered.”
Greater Bendigo’s senior urban planner Tim Buykx took Cr Blenkhorn, Cardinia Shire planner Steve Hines and Pakenham Retravision’s Steve Hardy on a tour of the town’s mall on 6 August.
Cr Blenkhorn said the mall was visually appealing, but 20 years on still experienced problems with anti-social behaviour out of business hours.
He said a shared-space area had the benefit of having tyres on the street at night.
“This slow traffic movement at night means that they still have the benefit of ‘eyes’ on the street and a consequent reduction of anti-social behaviour,” he said.
But Pakenham Business Group (PBG) president Michael Porter, who has also seen Bendigo’s mall first-hand, was far from sold on Cr Blenkhorn’s shared-space idea.
“To do a shared facility, my personal opinion is it (Main Street) is just too busy with traffic flow and we cannot afford to lose any more car spots,” he said.
“I don’t know why he’s comparing Bendigo to Pakenham, it’s like Melbourne – it’s got block after block … Pakenham doesn’t have easy access around Main Street.”
Members of the PBG aren’t keen for any more changes to Pakenham’s retail heartland until the $80 million retail hub is complete, and they passed a motion to that effect at a meeting on Monday night.
“In two years’ time you can address traffic flow, parking and growth,” Mr Porter said.
Councillors put a review of Pakenham’s main shopping strip on hold after Woolworths committed to the $80 million retail hub.
However, Cr Blenkhorn said civic leaders needed to start seriously thinking about the future of Pakenham’s main retail area.
“As a result of the visit, I am more convinced than before that we, the community, the traders and the council must decide in the near future what our CBD will be like in 15 years and work consistently over time towards that shared goal,” he said.
“Do we do nothing and hope to stay as we are? Or do we start looking at all the alternatives that are available to ensure that we have an attractive, vibrant environment in the CBD?”