Cars are set to drive through The Mall again following a vote by Greater Bendigo’s councillors.
A meeting held on Monday night, May 18th saw a majority of elected members endorse a new Action Plan for Hargreaves Mall, which includes a proposal to build a one-way road with a 10km/h speed limit.
Epsom Ward councillor and former Mayor Andrea Metcalf spoke in favour of the motion, noting she had received e-mails both supporting the Mall “in its current form” and a decision to re-open it to traffic.
“I do not see the recommendation before us as an all-or-nothing approach,” Cr Metcalf said.
“It is a balanced proposal to re-open a road through the Mall with a light touch, while still allowing the space to close for activation programs such as [the] Moonlight Market or car shows.”
(File photo: City of Greater Bendigo)
Seven other elected members, including current Mayor Thomas Prince – whose ward of Lake Weeroona takes in the shopping strip – also spoke in favour of the Plan, while also acknowledging that he dislikes the idea of a road through the Mall.
“Whether you don’t believe in what this motion is putting forward, [or] you don’t believe in the road, know that I don’t either,” Mayor Prince said.
“But I know I have to put that aside for the sake of trying to give this opportunity the best support that it needs.”
Whipstick Ward representative Owen Cosgriff was the sole councillor to vote against the Plan, expressing doubt as to whether letting traffic through will bring shoppers back to the Mall as the City claims.
“Shepparton and Ballarat have done this in the not-too-distant past… however I don’t think that there’s a great deal of evidence to indicate that they are performing in such a way that… it’s simply undeniable that this ought to be done here [in Bendigo] as well,” Cr Cosgriff said.
He also expressed concern about young people losing a social space and the road’s proximity to the playground.
Now that the Plan has been approved, works are expected to begin in mid-June and be complete by early September.
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