With the redevelopment of part of Warragul’s Palmerston Street finally taking shape, some locals are becoming concerned about how the new one way section will work.
This briefing was first published in the 14 June 2018 edition of the Baw Baw Citizen. Get your copy free from retailers across Baw Baw.
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As construction of the widened footpaths between Smith and Victoria streets has progressed, people have suggested that angle parking strips are now so close there’s the potential for cars to reverse into each other when leaving spaces.
But a council spokesperson told the Baw Baw Citizen the organisation is “confident that road users will adapt to the new parking conditions along Palmerston Street.”
“Once complete it is envisaged this will contribute to a thriving retail area,” they said.
Whether the short section of road becomes notorious for bumper bumping remains to be seen, but one impact of the redevelopment is already visible: how traffic flows through town.
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Many people have also expressed confusion and frustration over the decision to stop traffic travelling west along Palmerston Street between Smith and Victoria. The section of road was part of a popular loop people would take around town when hunting for parking. The loop now involves detouring north to the Woolworths car park or Albert Street.
To understand why Palmerston Street is now the way it is, we have to look to 2011’s Warragul Town Centre Masterplan; the document which has guided the redevelopment of Palmerston Street.
What we can’t see yet is the effect of the other major feature of that masterplan: Smith Street becoming south-bound only between Palmerston and Victoria.
Why make that change? The council has long had the goal of forcing VicRoads to make Victoria Street the priority road at its intersection with Smith. VicRoads is responsible for managing Victoria Street, while the council has to maintain Smith and Palmerston. Forcing traffic off Smith Street is a way for the council to make it behave like a local road and not an arterial connection. That’s also part of the reason behind the street’s zebra crossings.
Palmerston Street’s one way direction was chosen to match up with Smith Street’s future configuration. It’s odd now, but will make sense in the future. Hopefully.
I’m glad you’re “hopeful” because I’m not. Everything you mention as a ploy to force vicroads into some sort of action is creating a nightmare for ratepayers. What exactly is it that you want vicroads to do?
Who would bother coming in to shop in Warragul now? With Palmerston St mucked up, soon to be followed by the rest of the adjustments required to get that great behemoth Vicroads to take some action; it is becoming impossible to shop in Warragul. Looks like Moe will be getting my business.
What ‘nightmare’? How about stop whining at any change and get used to it, Warragul is growing up and it should have happened years ago.
As for cars reversing in to each other, have you never parked at a supermarket?
Apears to me the only ones benfitting from this are owners of Coffee Shop on corner, as they will have more room for outdoor table, and somewhere for cyclista to park their bikes on weekend coffee meet ups.
Pauline