Let there be lights

By Tania Martin
A MONBULK woman has joined police calls for urgent action on the town’s new pedestrian crossing, saying it’s a public safety risk.
Helen Hunt was almost mowed down recently after a motorist sped through the walk-way.
The crossing located at the top end of Main Street in Monbulk was first installed six-months ago, but the flashing lights are yet to be turned on.
Mrs Hunt said she used the crossing at least four or five times a day and it was getting more and more dangerous.
“It’s like playing Russian Roulette,” she said.
Ms Hunt said the most recent incident happen about two weeks ago.
“I was walking across the road and one car was stopped but the one behind it overtook and sped through the crossing,” she said.
Ms Hunt was lucky on this occasion to make it across the road unharmed.
“Half the time you don’t know what the cars are going to do,” Mrs Hunt said.
She fails to see why the lights have not been switched on.
“We know they work because they switched them on in our shop (Monbulk Jewellers) when they installed them,” Ms Hunt said.
Ms Hunt also witnessed another incident that could have been catastrophic.
“A mum with a toddler and pram where crossing and a B-double truck had to come to a screeching halt … it was lucky the truck was able to stop,” she said.
Monbulk Police Sergeant Alan Fincher said the lack of lights was becoming a public safety issue.
Sgt Fincher said motorists didn’t even realise the crossing was in use because of the lack of warning lights.
He is fed up with the lack of action from the Shire of Yarra Ranges and VicRoads.
“The lights are there but just need to be switched on,” Sgt Fincher said.
“It can’t take this long to get the lights working all they have to do is plug them in and flick a switch.”
Shire spokeswoman Tracey Varley said the delay in switching on the lights had been caused by confusion over whose responsibility it was.
She said it was a VicRoads street but as it was a council project, it was unclear who should be switching on the lights.
Ms Varley said despite the lack of lights motorists should be stopping at the walking leg signs.
“The signs are in fact the legal entity of a pedestrian crossing, so motorists must give way whenever they see these signs,” she said.
“The white lines and flashing lights are used to complement these signs.”
Ms Hunt said at least three times a week someone narrowly missed getting hit.
Ms Varley told the Mail late last Friday that the council had finally received paperwork from VicRoads approving the electricity connection.
She said the council had contacted the power utility, SP-AusNet and arranged for power to be connected to the lights over the weekend.
However, at the time the Mail went to print the lights still had no power.