Nelson Street Upgrades – Listening, Learning and Moving Forward
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
Over recent weeks, there has been considerable discussion about the works on Nelson Street. I want to speak directly and openly about what has been done, why it was done, and how we are responding to the feedback we’ve received from our community.
Why the Nelson Street upgrade matters
Nelson Street is an important part of our town’s daily life. After a technical review of the roadway, it became clear that the road surface had reached the end of its usable life, and rather than simply replace the asphalt, we took the opportunity to improve safety for everyone who uses this busy corridor.
This project directly supports the Smithton Town Centre Plan, which highlights the need to:
Improve pedestrian access and overall accessibility
Implement traffic calming measures to improve safety
Enhance traffic flow in the town centre
Nelson Street serves schools, SWIRL, the Recreation Centre and sporting facilities. It carries local traffic, turning vehicles and pedestrians throughout the day. The long-term safety benefits of this upgrade remain important and necessary.
What we’ve heard
The team and I have listened carefully to the concerns raised about the design.
After the works were nearing completion and having received feedback from some users of the road, I challenged ourselves to reconsider whether we had reflected in the design, the wide range of local views relating to the effects of the pedestrian crossing island near the Grant Street intersection, and peak hour traffic movements.
In response, beginning Tuesday 24 Feb, staff will review the traffic flow at peak times, after which we will bring those observations back to see what changes may need to be made to the roadway. Change on any part of our roading network takes a period of adjustment but it need be supported through strong and consistent communication.
We know there has been some commentary on social media, and we understand that people care deeply about their town. You have my commitment that should we not meet our own high standards we will always strive to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday.
As we all want the same outcome for our community, all I ask is that we all remain open to having constructive, calm, and respectful conversations, avoiding emotionally charged unhelpful exchanges through social media that create a divide and slowing progress in our community.