Thursday,20 June 2024

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:38): (947) My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The Coburg community is very supportive of Merri-bek City Council’s trial closure of Barrow Street at the intersection with Harding Street to make it a safer active transport corridor for children and other community members. Barrow Street is an important active transport link for several local schools, with many local students riding their bikes up and down this corridor every day. Merri-bek Primary and Coburg High are very supportive of the trial, and I have heard from parents at nearby St Bernard’s primary school that they are also strongly supportive of this trial despite the school itself having taken a contrary position. These parents are disappointed that their local member Anthony Cianflone is inexplicably against the trial, even though publicly he advocates for public transport apparently. Minister, why isn’t your government supporting this trial closure that would protect children and other vulnerable road users?