Scroll down for the Minister’s response, or click here to discover more about how we’re working for Wendouree.

Original constituency question from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

My question is for the Minister for Roads in the other place about three upgrades to Sturt Street west intersections adjacent to a number of schools in my electorate of Wendouree.

There are plans are to upgrade the Sturt Street and Wanliss Road intersection in Newington between Ballarat Clarendon College and St Patrick’s College; the Sturt, Russell and Morrison streets intersection in Newington near Loreto College; and the Sturt and Longley streets intersection in Alfredton opposite Ballarat High School.

Minister, how will the upgrades to multiple intersections on Sturt Street near a number of schools improve road safety for students, parents, teachers and the broader community?

I would also like to thank the Minister for Roads for the installation of electronic speed signs on Howitt Street outside Wendouree Primary School, on Forest Street out the front of Ballarat Grammar School and on Doveton Street outside Dana Street Primary School. I am also pleased that electronic speed signs will be installed out the front of Alfredton Primary School and my old school, St Thomas More Primary School.

Response from the Hon Jaala Pulford MP, Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, & Minister for Fishing and Boating (12th July 2019) –

The Government’s $4.8 million investment in the Sturt Street West corridor will make journeys more efficient for drivers along this busy road and provide safer options for pedestrians, particularly around schools.

Works in the vicinity of Ballarat High school were completed in May 2019 and involved the removal of high risk right-turn movements at the Ballarat High School entrance, Longley Street and Vale Street intersections. Formal pedestrian crossings were installed in the Sturt Street service roads, adjacent to the entrance to Ballarat High School, to improve safety for students, school staff and other pedestrians. These improvements have received positive feedback from the Ballarat High School community.

Further works will be completed during the 2019-2020 financial year. These works involve installing traffic signals at the intersection of Sturt Street and Russell/Morrison Streets near Loreto College, to improve safety for traffic and pedestrians accessing the school.

Significant safety upgrades are also planned at the Wanliss Road intersection, located between Ballarat Clarendon College and St Patrick’s College. These works will eliminate conflict between pedestrians and vehicles in the service road adjacent to the school by removing direct service road access to Wanliss Road. Stage 1 of these works commenced in late June, with the construction of a U-turn lane opposite Elliott Street, to provide safe vehicle access to Ballarat Clarendon College and St Patrick’s College during the busy school pick up and drop off periods.

This investment in a safer and more efficient Sturt Street West corridor will support Ballarat’s future growth and make the road safer and more reliable for people travelling to work, school and other activities.