Reservoir residents demand road safety changes

MEDIA RELEASE

Concerned residents in the East Reservoir area are demanding changes to a dangerous intersection located close to a state primary school and other community facilities.

The intersection of Boldrewood Parade and Broadway is located near Reservoir East Primary School, East Reservoir Neighbourhood House, Reservoir Leisure Centre and Reservoir High School.

“Every morning and afternoon, hundreds of school children attempt to cross at this dangerous intersection, often having to dash across in front of speeding cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles,” said Pia Cerveri, a local resident and mother of two young schoolchildren.

“This is a very large roundabout, with five roads intersecting – one of which being a major thoroughfare for huge trucks trying to cut through to the M80 Ring Road – and no logical way for pedestrians to cross safely.”

“It’s ridiculous that school children as young as 6 years old are expected to navigate this. It’s an increasingly dangerous situation for local families to be placed in, and it’s time that we saw real political action to address it,” said Ms Cerveri.

A group of concerned local residents have invited candidates in the upcoming 2022 Victorian election to visit the intersection, to see for themselves the dangers that are present to pedestrians. The group are calling for the intersection to have traffic lights installed, as well as dedicated button-triggered pedestrian crossings.

When:        8:30am, Thursday 20 October

Where:        Intersection of Boldrewood Parade and Broadway, Reservoir

What:    Photo opportunity – families and school students alongside busy roundabout

Who:    Local residents, parents, schoolchildren and candidates in upcoming Victorian state election from Labor, Greens, Reason and independents

Notes and statistics:

• VicRoads and TAC reports for the period 2017-2022 show 94 pedestrian-vehicle accidents in the Darebin area, with 34 being classified as serious injuries and 2 fatalities.
• Darebin Council’s Darebin Advocacy Platform 2022 includes specific reference to this issue: ‘Fix the safety issues at the Boldrewood Parade and Broadway intersection in Reservoir’
• A similarly dangerous roundabout at the intersection of Sussex and Gaffney Streets in Pascoe Vale was finally changed to address pedestrian safety in early 2022, following vocal community concerns.