egs road safety reply july 2014

Mr Russell Northe, MP
Minister for Small Business
Level 16, 121 Exhibition Street
Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
 

Dear Mr Northe

Closure of Mallacoota Parks Victoria Office

The Mallacoota Progress Association Inc. (MPA), which represents over 40 business owners or operators in Mallacoota, is concerned about the impact on our town’s businesses due to Parks Victoria’s changing policy on face-to-face interactions with the public.

To quote from Parks Victoria’s parkweb site: “Mallacoota is located in Far East Gippsland and surrounded by Croajingolong National Park.” All plans for Mallacoota’s future economic development have as their basis the unique selling point of our town’s setting within this wilderness area and emphasise that environmental tourism is to be developed in accordance with the Mallacoota Urban Design Framework, by promoting the “use of Croajingolong National Park and other natural assets, through the establishment of a well-located and effective Visitor Information/Interpretive Centre within the town centre”, which would provide world class interpretation of Croajingolong and other nearby parks, and would have state of the art interpretive information on marine and land based natural systems as well as the history of Aboriginal and European occupation and activities. This centre was to have booking facilities for guided tours and children’s activities, and complementary commercial booking facilities for accommodation and tours, along with the incorporation of café and restaurant facilities to help offset operating costs.

However, despite such a facility being seen as vital to enhance tourism in Mallacoota, the existing Parks Victoria Office in Mallacoota has now been closed to the public. In former times, the Parks Office here had two officers available to give visitors information, answer questions, make suggestions and very importantly, receive feedback. This was reduced to one person several years ago, then to one person on a part time basis, and for some time now, no Parks Victoria officer at all.

As you would expect, many businesses best maximise their potential when visitors to the town make the most of their personal interests while staying here. While Parks Victoria will be able to streamline many aspects of their communications with the public, many of the visitors to our town and the surrounding National Parks seek personal contact and many are not fluent users of hand held technology.

The closure of the Parks Office has happened without consultation with our members as to the detrimental impacts on their businesses, which have already been felt. We are requesting that as Minister for Small Business you look into how the decision to end Parks Victoria’s services was taken, and what measures can be taken to remedy this situation to help ensure Mallacoota’s economic viability.

We look forward to your response.

Regards

MA Bartholomew
President MPA
 

Daryl Townsend

Roads and Traffic Technical Officer

East Gippsland Shire Council

273 Main Street

Bairnsdale VIC 3875

Dear Daryl

Mallacoota Road Safety Plan Implementation

At a recent general meeting of the Mallacoota Progress Association Inc. (MPA), representing businesses, residents, volunteers and families in Mallacoota, concern was expressed about road safety in Mallacoota.

While it was agreed that in general road safety concerns are greatest during the tourist seasons, unsafe road usage has been exacerbated in recent months because of the construction work at Bastion Point. The dangers, not limited to Bastion Point Road, are to pedestrians, parents with prams, elderly and disabled users of electric mobility scooters, horse riders, skateboarders and cyclists, as well as to native wildlife.

MPA members voted that a coherent, overarching road safety plan for the town be put in place. Consequent consultation with Sergeant Andrew Scott of Victoria Police, Mallacoota, revealed that Sgt. Scott developed such a plan, and submitted it to you over a year ago for Shire approval, and then for you to seek implementation via VicRoads.

Despite Sgt. Scott’s extensively researched submission, you wrote in January this year that no action would be taken until completion of the Bastion Point construction. Given that the Mallacoota police submission was prepared prior to this construction work, the additional hazards in our town of heavily laden trucks should have been cause for hastening, not delaying, change. It is not acceptable to assert that this is a matter for VicRoads without acknowledging that VicRoads heeds Shire Council advice. You will be aware of this: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/SafetyIssues/Speed/VictoriasSpeedLimits.htm

Sgt. Scott’s plan has been sighted and, as you are aware, includes measures such as 50kph limits throughout town with 40kph for school zones and a further speed reduction for a shared zone between Bastion Point and Nelson Drive. MPA members support a 40kph limit for Bastion Point Road from Betka Road to the shared zone.

The MPA believes it is important that Sgt. Scott’s safety plan is considered as a matter of urgency. We would like you to indicate which sections of Sgt. Scott’s submission you have referred to Council and to VicRoads, and for you to inform us on what progress the Shire has made on the implementation of this road safety plan.

We look forward to your response.

MA Bartholomew
President MPA