Project objective

At its June 2022 meeting, Council resolved to commence community engagement to determine the level of support for the temporary closure of a section of Melrose Street. The section of Melrose Street under consideration for possible pedestrianisation is located to the west of Station Street, Sandringham and east of the common boundary between 12 Melrose Street and 118–120 Beach Road, Sandringham.

Council considered community feedback about the idea to pedestrianise a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham at its December 2022 meeting and resolved to commence a statutory engagement process to consider a trial (temporary) closure.

This statutory Section 223 process, in accordance with Local Government Act 1989 (the Act) requirements, will formally seek submissions on a proposed temporary road closure of part of Melrose Street, Sandringham, commencing in November 2023 for a maximum period of six months.

A Special Committee of Council has been established to hear verbal submissions on 19 April 2023.

Council is expected to consider a report on the outcomes of the statutory consultation process at its May 2023 meeting and decide whether to progress with the trial closure.

If the trial closure is supported, consultation on the development of a concept design for the use of the space during the trial closure would commence with key stakeholders, including local traders.

Project impacts

The temporary reallocation of road space in Melrose Street would create opportunities for improved local amenity and community connection, pedestrian and cyclist access and safety, and potentially increase foot traffic to businesses, improving the local economy.

Any reduction in private vehicle use and the potential reallocation of parking resources for green spaces would also have positive impacts on the natural environment through a reduction in vehicle emissions and increased vegetation.

Rationale for a trial closure

The sentiment towards the proposed closure of Melrose Street during the first phase of community consultation was polarised (42% strongly supporting and 39% strongly opposing).

A trial closure may assist the community in visualising the space and understanding the potential benefits of pedestrianising the area, as well as enable Council to determine impacts and issues that may not have been identified through the community consultation processes.

Traffic and parking

A temporary closure of a section of Melrose Street would have impacts on traffic flow and possible traffic congestion in the Sandringham Village shopping precinct. It will also result in a loss of approximately 14 on-street parking spaces, including seven 1-hour parking spaces, three 2-hour parking spaces and four spaces that are currently already used as parklets for outdoor dining.

A traffic study which was undertaken to understand the impact on traffic that a partial closure of Melrose Street would have, determined it would have an overall minor impact on the operation of the surrounding intersections and road network.

The traffic study assessed the impacts of a potential closure, with a particular interest in the redirection of traffic movements and circulation to other streets and intersections in the vicinity.

Traffic data and modelling found that a moderate to high proportion of vehicles use Melrose Street as a thoroughfare between Station Street and Beach Road, or for parking in Melrose Street or the Sandringham Hotel car park.

A concept design for a temporary/trial road closure – including the layout of any outdoor public space or dining areas – would need to ensure adequate space for pedestrian access, as well as the road dead-end treatment. It would also need to ensure that vehicles can adequately turn around within the street in approach to the road closure, and adequate signage to ensure drivers are aware of the closure from Beach Road and Melrose Street.

Council is required to consider a report from Head, Transport for Victoria prior to proceeding with the temporary road closure. Council would also undertake consultation with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) regarding potential bus impacts and Beach Road intersection impacts.

Budget

If Council resolves to proceed with a trial closure of Melrose Street, funding would be required to implement temporary closure traffic treatments and matters to activate the space.

To enable this work to be implemented, a proposal for $100,000 was made within the 2023–24 budget. This consists of:

• $40,000 to support the closure
• $60,000 to fund activation of the area to ensure the trial is successful and people use the space as designed.

Legal

Subject to the outcome of the Section 223 process, in accordance with Local Government Act 1989 requirements, Council has powers under the Act to progress with the trial closure.

Section 207 of the Act, Power of Council over traffic, Schedule 11:

• Clause 10 - Power to place obstructions or barriers on a roadway temporarily and can resolve a process to close a road subject to certain requirements and conditions.

• A Council may block or restrict the passage or access of vehicles on a road by placing and maintaining any temporary barrier or other obstruction on the road:
• A Council must not exercise the power given to it under subclause (1)(c) unless it has considered a report from the Head, Transport for Victoria concerning the exercise of the power.
• This clause does not apply to a freeway or an arterial road within the meaning of the Road Management Act 2004, unless the Council has the consent of the Head, Transport for Victoria.

The statutory process under Section 223 of the Local Government Act requires Council to:

• publish a public notice informing the community about the proposed road closure
• provide an opportunity for the community to make submissions regarding the proposal
• if requested, allow a person making a submission to appear in person in support of the submission at a meeting of the Council or a committee determined by the Council.

What information do we need from the community?

This formal phase of community consultation is being conducted under Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989.

What can the community influence?

• Community members are encouraged to provide a submission giving their feedback on the proposed temporary partial road closure of Melrose Street, Sandringham commencing in November 2023 for a maximum period of six months, and can also speak at a Special Committee of Council meeting in support of their submission.

What can’t the community influence?

• Council’s June and December 2022 decisions to undertake community engagement
• Traffic interventions required to support the road closure
• The design and future use of the open space in Melrose Street. This will be the subject of a further community engagement process if the closure proceeds.
• Existing policies and strategies related to parking, parklets, outdoor dining and footpath trading, traffic, and transport planning.
• Existing masterplans or statutory processes related to the Sandringham Village precinct.
• Statutory requirements under the Local Government Act 1989, Road Management Act and the Department of Transport and Planning requirements.
• Council’s ongoing management responsibilities of public areas.
• A permanent partial road closure. This would require a subsequent statutory process to seek public submissions on a potential proposal.

Stakeholders and community

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

• Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project
• Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
• Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum
• Key: H = high; M = medium, L = Low

Stakeholder / community	Interest	Impact	Influence
Melrose Street traders	H	H	Consult
Sandringham Village traders	H	H	Consult
Sandringham Village Traders Association	H	H	Consult
Employees within the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	M	Consult
Melrose Street residents and property owners	H	H	Consult
Residents within the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	H	Consult
Visitors to the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	M	Consult
Community engagement participants (Phase 1)	H	M – H	Consult
Bayside residents	L	L	Consult
Victorian Government transport agencies (formally engaged through separate process)	L	L	Inform
Local MPs	M	L	Inform

Selected tools and techniques

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Addressed mail to Sandringham Village (including Melrose Street) business owners and residents
• Site signage
• Direct emails to project subscribers and key stakeholder groups
• Advertisement in The Age newspaper
• Public notice on Council’s website
• Project information on Council’s Have Your Say engagement platform
• News story on Council’s website and e-newsletter This Week in Bayside

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Council website Section 223 online form
• Post a submission to Governance Officer, PO Box 27 Sandringham 3191 or hand deliver to the Corporate Centre, 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham 3191
• Request to be Heard at Special Meeting of Council 19 April 2023
• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions
• Printed and accessible project information can be provided on request.

Decision-making process

Bayside City Council has previously undertaken a Streetscape Master Plan for Sandringham Village with significant engagement. This demonstrated mixed views with concerns over the loss of carparking and the impact of construction but support for improved pedestrian accesses and increased trees and greenery.

Council deferred the detailed design and documentation phase of the Sandringham Village Streetscape project until 2025–26. Since then, Council received a petition about a proposal to consider closing a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham that received some community support from local traders and community members.

At the June 2022 Council Meeting, it was resolved that Council commence community engagement to determine the level of support for the pedestrianisation of a section of the road in Melrose Street, Sandringham. Read the meeting minutes.

Community engagement (Phase 1) conducted from September to October 2022 sought to understand the level of support for the potential part road closure of Melrose Street, Sandringham.

Council considered (Phase 1) community feedback about the idea to pedestrianise a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham and a traffic report at its December 2022 meeting and decided to commence a statutory community engagement process to consider a trial (temporary) closure. Noting community concerns about parking availability in the Village, Council also decided to introduce parking sensors and dynamic signage, as well as update timed parking restrictions, to optimise use of the Council carpark located at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham. Read the meeting minutes.

Statutory consultation, in accordance with Local Government Act 1989 requirements, will be undertaken from 27 February to 28 March 2023 to formally seek feedback on a temporary road closure of part Melrose Street, Sandringham. Submitters through this process will also be able to speak to their submissions at a Special Committee of Council meeting on 19 April 2023.

Following this, Council will consider all submissions, as well as technical reports and guidance from other authorities and decide whether to proceed with a temporary (trial) partial closure of Melrose Street Sandringham.

If supported, the trial closure will be in place from November 2023 for a maximum period of six months.

If the road closure was proposed to become permanent in future, a repeat of the Local Government Act statutory process would be required to seek public submissions on that proposal.

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More information

Henry Lee

Traffic Management Coordinator | Climate, Waste and Integrated Transport

Phone: 03 9599 4394

Email: hlee@bayside.vic.gov.au

Project objective

In response to local community interest, we want to better understand the level of support for the potential reallocation of the use of a section of road space in Melrose Street, Sandringham, and the proposal to introduce a trader parking permit scheme utilising Councils underground carpark located at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham.

At its June 2022 meeting, it was resolved that Council commence community engagement to determine the level of support for the closure of a section of Melrose Street at the Station Street end of the street, and aspirations for the future use of the space, and the introduction of a trader parking permit scheme.

Project impacts

The proposed closure of a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham, will have impacts on traffic flow and possible traffic congestion in the Sandringham village shopping precinct. It will also result in a loss of approximately 14 on-street parking spaces.

Reallocation of road space in Melrose Street also may create opportunities for improved local amenity and community connection, pedestrian and cyclist access and safety, reduction of urban heat island effect with the potential addition of green space, and increased foot traffic to businesses improving local economy.

The introduction of a trader parking permit scheme for the underground carpark located at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham, may cause a loss of 36 customer parking spaces in the area but also has the potential to free up more customer parking inside the shopping precinct as the need for trader parking will be better met.

As part of this process Council will undertake traffic and parking surveys to better understand current use of both Melrose Street and 122 Beach Road, Sandringham.

Should there be community support for the closure of a section of Melrose Street, Council would also require consent from the Department of Transport.

What information do we need from the community?

We're seeking to understand whether our community and key stakeholders, including adjacent residents and local traders, support the closure of a section of Melrose Street. We are also wanting to gather high-level ideas for how the space could be better used in the future.

As part of this engagement, we're also gathering community feedback on the potential introduction of a trader parking permit scheme for the underground carpark located at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham.

Community feedback will directly influence if we proceed with these changes and will be presented to Council in December 2022.

What can the community influence?

• Whether or not the closure of a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham proceeds
• Design and future use of the open space area in Melrose Street if closure is supported
• Preferred provision for services and loading to businesses in Melrose Street
• Preferred management of traffic detouring around Melrose Street if closed
• Introduction of a trader parking permit scheme for the underground carpark at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham
• Conditions or terms of trader parking permit scheme, if supported.

What can’t the community influence?

• Council’s June 2022 decision to undertake community engagement on the ideas
• Existing policies and strategies related to parking, parklets, outdoor dining and footpath trading, traffic, and transport planning
• Existing masterplans or statutory processes related to the Sandringham shopping precinct
• Parklet Policy
• Statutory requirements under the Local Government Act, and the Department of Transport approval process
• Councils ongoing management responsibilities of public areas

Stakeholders and community

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

Stakeholder / community	Interest	Impact	Influence
Sandringham Village traders	H	H	Involve
Sandringham Village Traders Association	H	H	Involve
Employees within the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	H	Consult
Residents within the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	H	Involve
Visitors to the Sandringham shopping precinct	H	H	Involve
Commuters	M	M	Consult
Bayside residents	L	L	Consult
Pedestrians	L	M	Consult
Cyclists	L	M	Consult
Victorian Government transport agencies	L	L	Inform
Local MPs	M	L	Inform

Selected tools and techniques – Phase 1

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Site signage
• Letter to residents, traders and property owners in Sandringham Village
• Brochure distributed via letterbox drop to Sandringham residents
• Email notification to Have Your Say members
• Have Your Say project webpage
• Council website news and e-newsletter, This Week in Bayside
• Social media, especially sponsored posts to increase audience reach
• Direct email and/or addressed mail to key stakeholders.

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Digital and print surveys
• Online Q&A forum
• Series (3) of information and feedback webinars
• Pop-up conversation sessions (3) on in the Sandringham shopping precinct
• Correspondence (phone, email) to project team.

Decision-making process

At the June 2022 Council Meeting, it was resolved that Council:

1. Commences engagement with the Sandringham Traders and community for the closure of a section of Melrose Street, Sandringham to determine the level of support for the closure and aspirations for the use of the space and receives a report at the December 2022 Council meeting on the consultation outcomes.
2. Commences engagement with the Sandringham Traders to determine the level of support for the introduction of a trader parking permit scheme utilising the underground carpark located at 122 Beach Road, Sandringham and receives a report at the December 2022 Council meeting on the consultation outcomes.

Council is expected to consider the findings of the community engagement at its December 2022 meeting. Following this further engagement with the community will proceed, and a Traffic Impact Assessment will be prepared as required.

The agenda for the December 2022 Council meeting will include a report with recommendation and a community engagement report. The agenda will be published via Council's website. Project subscribers will be notified of the results of the engagement at this time.

The Council meeting will be live-streamed via Council’s website. Interested members of the community can ask a question of this meeting or request to be heard.

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More information

If you would like more information about this project, please contact Peter Butterworth, Traffic Management Coordinator, on 9599 4326 or pbutterworth@bayside.vic.gov.au