COMMUNITY advocates have submitted a petition to Horsham Rural City Council, with more than 550 signatures urging the council not to close McBryde Street.
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The closure would take place as part of a proposal for a multi-sports indoor stadium, included in the draft City to River masterplan.
Di Bell and Sue Exell sought signatures for the petition on McBryde Street on October 15. Mrs Bell said she counted 290 vehicles use the road during the school drop-off period, up from 243 in 2017.
"Traffic Studies were completed by the council (in 2017) over the Easter and school holidays - total of 19 days and only six were school days," they said in a statement.
"No study of Robinson St was included. As a result, it was requested that traffic studies (on surrounding streets) be completed to capture a complete picture. However, to our knowledge, this has not been completed.
"It is time for a complete change of process when investigating and developing projects in our municipality.
"The community's local knowledge and expertise goes untapped. Instead, people are expected to review a plan, developed (by) outside consultants working with the council's staff, and based on any number of assumptions that may not fit with community member's experiences."
The council's community relations and advocacy co-ordinator, Susan Surridge, said the petition would form part of the agenda at council's next ordinary meeting on November 25.
She provided this response to a list of questions the Mail-Times sent through based on Mrs Bell and Ms Exell's claims:
"The Engagement Report released last week provides a summary of our community's thoughts and ideas on the City to River Draft Masterplan.
"On page five it states that we are now in the Phase Three - the 'Refine Stage' which involves further targeted engagement to refine ideas based on response to community feedback.
"Page 51 notes that there will be a Councillor Workshop in November to look at responses to submissions and to decide on changes to the Draft Masterplan.
"Page 15 summarises the range of community feedback including positive comments from people that are pleased that Council has encouraged feedback as well as people who dislike the way Council has engaged on this specific project.
"All 740 responses have been read and reviewed, made available to Councillors and summarised by Council staff who have prepared the Engagement Report.
"Council has no further comments to provide at this time."
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
