Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:44): (114) My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. When will the minister install a 40-kilometre zone along Doncaster Road through the Balwyn North village shopping strip? Balwyn North village is home to many vibrant small businesses, from Salzano’s Deli, owned by the hardworking Ana Salzano, president of the traders association, to Ainsley and Narelle at Stanley & Stone, Sam at the popular Village Cafe and Rocco and the team at Signorelli’s fruit shop. Traders and shoppers are rightly concerned that the current 60-kilometre speed limit is dangerous for the shopping strip and discourages pedestrians’ activities, with near misses occurring all too often. It is also a risk for the hundreds of parishioners at the Greek Orthodox church located at the eastern end of the strip.

Further, just 100 metres off Doncaster Road from the shopping strip is the wonderful St Bede’s Primary School. Reducing the limit to 40 kilometres an hour is incredibly important for the safety of our community – shoppers, traders, parishioners, parents and primary school students alike. It will help increase pedestrian foot traffic, making it a more welcoming and accessible community hub, backing our small businesses. I call on the minister to provide an update as to when the North Balwyn village will see their much-needed 40-kilometre zone.