Anglesea Vic 3230

C r Rose Hodge Mayor S u r f Coas t Shire PO Box 350 Torquay Vic 3228

Dear C r Hodge

21 J u l y 2016

Please find enclosed two peti t ions for Council to consider. The first is regarding adequa te a n d informative signage in t h e Anglesea Shopping Precinct prohibit ing t h e riding of bicycles, skateboarding, rollerblading and u s e of scooters o n t h e shopping centre footpaths.

The second is i n regard to t h e reversing o u t of c a r p a r k spaces i n the Shopping Precinct.

Some m o n t h s ago I wrote a letter to t h e S u r f Coas t Times a b o u t t h e first i s sue a n d w a s surpr i sed a t t h e comment s I received from some of t h e shop owners a n d staff who h a d seen t h e letter. I spoke to some more shop o w n e r s / m a n a g e r s a n d realised t h a t they all s h a r e d m y concerns. I t was suggested I formally approach Council o n th i s m a t t e r so I drew u p two s t a t emen t s a n d a s k e d t h e shop o w n e r s / m a n a g e r s to sign. I m a d e the decision t h a t I would s top collecting s igna tures once I h a d more t h a n ha l f of t h e s h o p s signed up . I achieved t h a t target with zero refusals.

To b a c k u p t h e shop o w n e r s / m a n a g e r s I sough t t h e suppor t of t h e four major organisat ions who have hea l th a n d safety a s the i r m a i n concerns. I approached t h e Anglesea Police Station, t h e Anglesea Medical Centre, the Anglesea Ambulance Team a n d t h e cap ta in of t h e CFA. All signed willingly a n d have wished m e good luck a n d hope t h a t th i s successful.

I look forward to hear ing from Council o n these m a t t e r s a n d having further discussions.

Y o u r , s i cerely

J o ummings

A n g l e s e a S h o p p i n g Precinct

R e q u e s t for c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o b e given t o give d r ive r s r e v e r s i n g o u t o f a p a r k i n g space

pr io r i ty over d r ive r s p a s s i n g through

W e t h e s h o p o w n e r s / m a n a g e r s o f t h e p r o p e r t i e s b e l o w s u p p o r t this proposal.

G r e a t O c e a n Properties 101 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a P o s t Office 9 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

Malee T h a i restaurant 9 7 A G r e a t O c e a n Road

B e n d i g o Bank 9 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

Caffe Daniele 9 5 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a Pharmacy 9 3 G r e a t O c e a n Road

-4

G r e a t O c e a n R o a d Rea l Estate 9 1 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a N e w s a n d Lotto

'.V(Ltik -5) 71lb

8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

H a y d e n Rea l Estate 8 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

G u n s & Roses 1 7 / 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

Of f shore Café 8 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

C o u l t e r Roache 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

C o a s t l i n e F i n a n c i a l Group 2 0 / 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

McMil lan & Associates 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

S u n d a r Ghara 9 / 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a IGA Supermarket 6 9 / 7 1 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a B e a c h Club 3 / 8 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

Frangipanis 1 0 / 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

S e a E y e s Restaurant 1 2 / 8 7 - 8 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

O a k s B a k e r y Café 8 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

S u n . S a n d . Sea 8 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road Gq ca4

C o m m o n w e a l t h B a n k A n g l e s e a Branch 8 5 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a F i s h Shop 8 3 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a Bakery 8 1 G r e a t O c e a n Road

S u r f C o a s t R e a l Estate 7 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

J u m s B B Q Chickens 7 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

N o r d e n f i n e Ice Cream 7 5 G r e a t O c e a n Road

L a n e w a y 7 3 Café 7 3 G r e a t O c e a n Road

S e a s i d e S e c o n d s OpShop 71 G r e a t O c e a n Road

6

1 tr

/3/7//b

Rea l E s t a t e rentals 6 9 G r e a t O c e a n Road

T r a i l h e a d B ike Co. 6 7 G r e a t O c e a n Road

R o s e C h i n e s e Restauran 6 5 G r e a t O c e a n Road

A n g l e s e a Pizza 1 / 6 3 G r e a t Ocean

A n g l e s e a Fruitz 2 / 6 3 G r e a t O c e a n Road

SURFCOAST MEDICAL CENTRE MeMILLAN ST ANGLESEA 3230

PROV. NO. 0220292H AnN:85 617 300 637 .491 g.709 FAX 4215 6796

S ei

AJC4„EST.--. Ai-AL/Ot.,4,\),E

vvi4vo

tcAl 1 7 - S

r114-111/1rf-i-o,t-

ArS6),4-

52_ C- '67 LS :2227

7/16

/

7(‘(.

Anglesea Shopping Precinct

Reques t for considerat ion to b e given to give drivers reversing o u t of a park ing space

priority over drivers pa s s ing through

This i s sue is far more complex t h a n t h e signage proposal b u t i t n e e d s to be ra ised a n d discussed. The law in th i s Sta te says t h a t t h rough traffic has r ight of way over drivers reversing o u t of pa rk ing spaces.

Obviously someone reversing o u t of a park ing space outs ide Maids Pan t ry or S t a b b s t h e b u t c h e r s HAVE to give way to traffic o n t h e Grea t Ocean Road. No a r g u m e n t there. B u t shopping cent res a ren ' t thoroughfares.

Maybe w h e n th i s law w a s first d r a w n u p a n d enacted, i t w a s perfectly adequa te for t h e time. B u t it wasn ' t enac ted to never to be changed. And t imes do change. I r emember m a n y yea r s ago when, if we were t u rn ing left a t a n intersection, we h a d to give way to oncoming traffic t u rn ing right. Until J e f f Kennet t c ame to power a n d decided it w a s a s tup id rule.

The majority of Anglesea res idents do apply common sense a n d they do give way to people reversing o u t of the i r park ing space, b u t n o t all do, a n d sadly m a n y visitors don't.

Times have changed since th i s law w a s enacted. The biggest change to car p a r k s generally is t h e minimal a m o u n t of space provided p e r car. This isn't so b a d a t Anglesea, b u t t h e c a r park ing spaces a t some Torquay s h o p s are woefully small. In some c a r park ing areas , people reverse into a parking space, b u t t h a t is n o t possible a t Anglesea because of angle parking. The nex t biggest change is t h e adven t of four-wheel drive vehicles. I would ven ture to s ay t h a t m o s t t imes t h a t I a m reversing o u t of a park ing space in t h e Anglesea Shopping Precinct c a r park , I find myself n e x t to a four-wheel drive vehicle which completely blocks m y view. I have to reverse o u t very slowly, keeping one eye o n t h e r e a r vision mir ror i n case a c a r opposite is reversing o u t a s well a s s t ra ining to see if a c a r is coming th rough o n m y left o r right. Many is t h e t ime I have been two th i rds o u t a n d a driver coming t h rough h a s given m e a b la s t a n d sped past.

I recall one incident w h e n I w a s trying to reverse o u t of a park ing space next to a massive four-wheel drive vehicle which w a s completely blocking m y view of t h rough traffic a n d I w a s a lmos t o u t of m y park ing space w h e n a c a r flew p a s t a t speed, h o r n blaring. It gave m e a hell of a fright a n d I h i t m y car h o r n a s well. The driver pa rked a n d slowed m e down a s I w a s pass ing him a n d bera ted m e saying h e h a d r ight of way a n d if all people i n Anglesea were a s r u d e to visitors a s I was , t h e n maybe h e shou ld find somewhere else to holiday. I hope h e has.

C a r s today a re faster a n d quieter a n d I h a t e to s ay i t b u t drivers have generally become more aggressive. Road rage is o n t h e increase ac ross the State.

I t h i n k t h e t ime h a s come for Sta te government to revisit t h i s law a n d to change i t a n d I in tend to write to m y local S ta te MP o n th i s issue. However, I acknowledge t h a t is highly unlikely. B u t even if they don't , I a m reliably informed t h a t t h e Shire h a s t h e jur isdict ion to p a s s a local rul ing that dic ta tes t h a t people driving th rough shou ld give way to people reversing out of pa rk ing spaces. According to a n officer I spoke with a t VicRoads, t h e Surf Coas t Shire is responsible for t h e Anglesea Shopping Precinct a n d they have t h e r ight to m a k e s u c h a decision shou ld they so desire.

As with t h e signage petition, I approached several s h o p owners a b o u t this s i tuat ion a n d all agreed t h a t th i s is a real problem t h a t needs to be addres sed before someone is seriously injured. I haven ' t visited with every s h o p in t h e precinct b u t have m e t wi th more t h a n ha l f of t h e s h o p owners a n d / o r manage r s a n d all wi thout exception have signed t h e attached petition.

Sensible signage n e e d s to be placed a t t h e en t r ances to t h e c a r p a r k stating o r reques t ing t h a t drives slow down a n d give d u e a t ten t ion to drivers reversing o u t of a park ing space. Several shop owners/managers commented t h a t if th i s wasn ' t possible, t h e n maybe speed h u m p s shou ld be instal led a t t h e ent rances . This is n o t m y recommendat ion b u t I agreed to include it. One commented t h a t t h e two speed h u m p s n e a r the public toilets h a s slowed traffic there noticeably.