General News
5 July, 2024
Pedestrian crossfire: Wombat speed humps attract angry reception
Raised pedestrian crossings installed in Horsham CBD have angered pedestrians and mobility aid users who say the speed humps are a risk to road users.
And Horsham Rural City Council has been forced to act quickly.
The pin-down rubber wombat crossings - designed to slow traffic - were laid last week at the Firebrace and McLachlan Street roundabout.
But critics say the safety effort has backfired, with the elderly in particular struggling to navigate their gophers and walkers over the crossings.
The roundabout also has become congested as motorists are forced to slow down to allow people to cross.
Horsham Rural City Council rubber-stamped the move as part of its streetscape revitalisation plan to make streets safer and to make the CBD "more accessible to all people, especially vulnerable members of society like children and the elderly”.
But already there are calls for the temporary crossings to be permanently removed.
A council-initiated Older Persons Advisory Committee put its concerns about the crossings at its latest meeting saying the crossings were difficult to access for people with mobility aids and a tripping hazard for pedestrians, especially people with mobility issues.
An initial social media post about the crossings under the banner of Horsham Buy Sell and Swap attracted almost 250 comments within days. Most were hostile.
Some residents called for their immediate removal. Another reported a person had fallen at the speed hump outside Cheeky Fox cafe.
Wimmera Mobility Group was also swift in penning a letter voicing opposition and fear of danger to its members who attempt to use the crossings.
Council this week reacted swiftly to the complaints, saying it would deploy work crews to modify the angle of the raised ramps to "ensure a smooth and even surface".
"We are aware of the concerns raised by the community, particularly the Older Persons Advisory Committee, about the accessibility of these crossings," a spokesperson said.
"We want to reassure everyone that we are committed to ensuring that our infrastructure is safe and accessible for all members of the community.
"In response to the feedback received, we have initiated several rectification measures."
HRCC said its project manager, coordinator of civil works and coordinator engineering had visited the site and would rectify any uneven surfaces or lips that may pose challenges for those with mobility aids.
"Post this, we invite our community to provide feedback or report any specific areas of concern.
"Our team will conduct regular inspections of the roundabout and its pedestrian crossings to ensure that they remain safe and accessible.
"Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment for all residents, and we are committed to making any necessary adjustments to achieve this."
The rubber crossings were in addition to state government funded pedestrian crossings installed as part of the streetscape plan on Darlot Street, O’Callaghans Parade, Pynsent Street, Firebrace Street and the McLachlan Street roundabout.