Residential Street Improvement Program

Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa

Stage 2 community consultation results

1.0Consultation Overview

Stage 2 community consultation ran for ten weeks between 25 November 2013 and 31 January 2014. A total of 320 people participated in the consultation process, including surveys, emails and attendance at the information sessions. Please note that some people may have participated more than once.

Activity Summary

Table 1: Stage 2 Consultation Activities

Activity / Audience / Nature / Date / Location
Stakeholder letters/submission capacity / Targeted stakeholders including Government and Community Councils / Letters sent to stakeholders advising of the process and seeking submissions / 25 November 2013 / Traditional mail
‘Drop in’ information session / Residents and the local community / Provide an opportunity to ask for further information from technical specialists and the project team or give feedback. Project information was available for viewing / Thursday 12 December,
4pm – 6pm
Saturday 14 December,
10am -12pm
Wednesday 18 December,
5pm – 7pm / Erindale College Theatrette and Foyer at McBryde Crescent, Wanniassa
Survey (online and hard copy) / Residents of Wanniassa
and the broader community / Collect feedback on the proposed improvements through online survey, Time to Talk, and hard copy surveys / Throughout consultation period / Website, letterbox dropped, information session, Erindale, Woden and Tuggeranong library
Direct contact / Residents and the local community / Direct discussions with community members (notes taken via phone) and receiving of emails / Throughout consultation period / AECOM email address and phone number

Stakeholder Letters

Letters were sent to stakeholders advising them of the consultation process, inviting them to give feedback and giving them details about the information session. Stakeholders included Living Streets Canberra, NRMA Motoring and Services, Pedal Power, ACTION, ACT Emergency Services, Motorcycle Riders Association, Erindale College, Wanniassa School Junior and Senior Campus, St Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Trinity Christian College and Tuggeranong Community Council.

Webpage Information

Project information was included on the ACT Government’s Time to Talk website along with a link to the online survey, contact information for feedback and details of the consultation.

Project Fact Sheet

A project fact sheet was created that included the project background and an explanation of the public consultation and feedback mechanisms. This information was presented on an A3 (folded into A4)coloured sheet with map information on traffic calming options.

Survey

A feedback survey was created to collect feedback, gauge community priority factors and capture comments. The questions gathered basic demographic information and prompted participants to provide general feedback on SternbergCrescentand surrounding streets and the consultation process. Hard copies of the survey were letterbox dropped to residents in Wanniassa with a reply paid envelope to encourage increased numbers of responses. A link to the survey was placed onthe Time to Talk website. Hard copies received were entered into the electronic system by AECOM staff.

Advertising

The public consultation period was advertised through the ACT Government sponsored Community Noticeboard in the Canberra Times throughout the engagement. The advertisements promoted the consultation period and feedback mechanisms and directed people to the Time to Talk website to find more information.

Posters and Maps

Posters and maps were provided at the information sessions which outlined details about the consultation, traffic speed, volume and crash dataalong Sternberg Crescent and surrounding streets, Google earth images for context and a preliminary overview of the feedback received to date from the community. These were in colour A0 and A1 size posters. The options were clearly evident. They were designed as a tool for technical specialists at the information session to discuss feedback ‘on the spot’.

Letterbox Drop

A letterbox drop of the project fact sheet and hard copy survey was delivered toWanniassa.

Media Coverage

A media release outlined the project and accompanying consultation period.

Enquiry and Correspondence Management

The mechanisms utilised to facilitate contact between the public and the project team included:

Phone – a project team member’s phone number was provided on the consultation material so that interested individuals could raise questions and concerns.

Email – the email address, was provided to enable feedback via the Internet.

Survey – the link to the feedback survey was provided on the Time to Talk webpage and within project advertisements to encourage completion of the survey.

Information sessions – three information sessions were held at Erindale College on the 12, 14 and 18 December 2013.

2.0Feedback

There were 276surveys completed, 13 emails, no phone submissions, and 31 attended the information session. By combining the feedback mechanisms, a total of 320 people participated. Please note that some people may have participated more than once.

Several themes emerged regarding the consultation feedback. Feedback has been grouped into themes for each feedback mechanism and is outlined in the following tables.

Information Session Feedback

31 people attended the 3 sessions held on 12, 14 and 18 December 2013. Table 1 highlights numbers of those that actively asked questions and wanted to be briefed at the sessions. A summary of feedback received from the session is outlined in Table 2.

Table 1: Stage 2 Dates and Numbers of Attendance for Sessions: RSI Study Attendance figures at Consultations

Date / Attendance
12 December 2013 / 12
14December 2013 / 14
18December 2013 (info session) / 5
Total / 31

Table 2: Stage 2 information session feedback

Theme / Community Feedback
Option 1 /
  • This was preferred by the majority who attended the sessions over Option 2. Most people were aware of the extra costs of roundabouts but felt that these were a good solution.
  • Langdon Avenue/Sternberg Crescent roundabout was requested as a first priority, with comments referring to a death a few years ago.
  • People find it difficult to get out of McWhae Circuit.

Pedestrian Safety /
  • Pedestrian refuge or median on Sternberg Crescent, east of Ashley Drive requested.
  • More police presence requested.
  • More speed enforcement before engineering works are conducted was requested.
  • Improve street lighting on Sternberg Crescent.

Roundabouts /
  • Request for additional calming at corner of Wheeler Crescent and Sternberg Crescent – suggestions were for a mini roundabout.

Visibility Issues /
  • Support for McBryde Crescent to be 50km/h all the way to Amsinck Street.
  • Remove trees near McWhae Circuit and Sternberg Crescentto improve sightline.

General /
  • General support for traffic calming options proposed.

Survey Feedback

276 surveys were received. Feedback received from the surveys is outlined in Table 3.

Table 3: Stage 2 survey feedback

Question / Community Feedback
1. What street and suburb do you live in? / The top streets where respondents lived were Other (80.2%), Langdon Avenue (4.1%) and Sternberg Crescent (3.7%).
The top suburbs were Wanniassa (96.4%) and Monash (1.1%).
2. Do you generally support the proposed traffic calming measures on Sternberg Crescent and surrounding streets? / Yes (87.9%), No (5.9), Unsure (6.3%).
3. Which improvement option would you support for the section of Sternberg Crescent between Langdon Avenue and Ashley Drive? / A majority of respondents supported Option 1 (66.9%), with 19.7% supporting Option 2. Other responses were Neither (11.2%) and Unsure (2.2%).
4. If you would like to suggest a change to the proposed scheme, please name the street and treatment(s), and provide your reason. / 21 people responded to this question. The main concerns for Sternberg were traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, mini roundabout, and speed cushions.
Key changes that are suggested by the community are (in no order):
• Option 1 is preferred. There were comments that supported this option but discussed the validity of traffic lights but there was support for a solution to improve access/egress and safety at this intersection; and support for the roundabouts at Langdon Avenue and Ashley Drive. A mini roundabout was noted by a few community members as being a better option than traffic lights at Comrie Street.
• Peak hour traffic lights suggested for the road congestion through Erindale Drive/Bugden Avenue/Sternberg Crescent
• Pedestrian refuge near Wanniassa Junior School Campus, as well as near the Sternberg Crescent/Comrie Street intersection
• Posted speed limit of 50km/h over full length of McBryde Crescent is generally supported
• Speed cameras suggested as an alternative to speed cushions
• Speed cushions suggested to be placed on Sternberg Crescent
Changes that are generally not supported by a majority of the community:
1.Option 2 is generally not preferred
2.Traffic lights at Comrie Street
3.Speed cushions not favoured on main streets.
“Mini roundabouts at all locations would be preferable as it allows for smooth traffic flows without the need for traffic lights which can create backlogs of traffic waiting for the lights to change to the appropriate signal”
“I do not support traffic lights @ Comrie Street & Sternberg Crescent Traffic is only problematic here at Peak 5-7pm when Woollies & take-away/Restaurant area is busy - a roundabout would be better & work well in Non-Peak times”
“A speed camera might be more effective, about 100m - 200m west of Erindale on Sternberg, and another in the vicinity of Wheeler Crescent.”
“Option 1 with roundabout @ corner Sternberg Crescent & Comrie Street rather than traffic lights. Roundabout at corner Ashley & McBryde, 40kph limit on McBryde like in town centre.”
“I think option 1 is brilliant! It will slow down the cars along Sternberg Crescent and allow cars to turn right from Langdon onto Sternberg Crescent safely, also, adds incentive to use Erindale Drive as the arterial to Woden that than racing through school zones on Langdon Avenue/Sainsbury Street. This option 1 is clever!”
5. Do you think there should be treatments on any other streets? If so, please provide the name of the street(s). / 59% of respondents to this question (not everyone responded) agreed that other treatments were necessary. The other main streets mentioned were Mackinnon Street, McBryde Crescent, McWhae Circuit and Longmore Crescent.
Common concerns by the community are (in no order):
• Mackinnon Street– Mini roundabout suggested, opposed to traffic light
• McBryde Crescent – Roundabout with Comrie St, speed cushions are suggested
• McWhae Circuit – Difficult to turn onto in peak traffic times
• Longmore Crescent– Used as alternate for Sulwood Drive, therefore attracts speeding drivers
• Langdon Avenue – more 50km/h signs and speed cushions suggested
• Calming near schools
• Speeding on Fincham Crescent.
“(1) Treatment for speeding along Longmore Crescent between Gaunson Street and Sainsbury Street - this section is used by traffic as an alternative to travelling along Sulwood Drive. (2) Removal of roundabouts at the intersections of Longmore Crescent/Gaunson Street and Longmore Crescent/Sainsbury Street as they provide no useful safety measure but provide invitations to hoons and speedsters to do burnouts.”
“A mini roundabout at the intersection of Sternberg Crescent & Mackinnon Street.”
“McWhae Circuit onto Sternberg Crescent - very difficult to turn right out of McWhae Circuit onto Sternberg Crescent at busy times”
“Intersection of Comrie Street/McBryde Crescent. Too small for large vehicles to turn & often very difficult to do a right turn into McBryde Crescent from Comrie Street”
“Speed cushions on McBryde Crescent outside Trinity Christian School”
“Roundabout would assist entry into McBryde Crescent from Comrie Street, which can be very difficult at times. Comrie intersection with McBryde Crescent”
“Langdon Avenue - More 50mpk signs and humps. Very dangerous trying to get in and out of our narrow street.”
6. Nominate three treatments in this scheme which you believe should have the highest priority for implementation. Please indicate the street, intersecting street (if referring to an intersection) and treatment. / 208 people responded to this question.
Of those that responded, 57.3% chose a new roundabout as their highest priority treatment. An additional 26.4% of respondents indicated their priority treatment to be new signals. The remaining treatments had less than 7.5% support for priority treatment.
Respondents clearly identified their priority street for treatment as Sternberg Crescent with 75.6% choosing it as their first preference. The majority of the remaining support (18.4%) choosing between McBryde Crescent (12.9%) and Fincham Crescent (5.5%).
The intersecting street most often chosen was Langdon Avenue (38.7%). This was followed by Comrie Street (25.8%), Ashley Drive (22.1%), Fincham Crescent (9.8%) and Forlonge Street (3.7%).
Based on the feedback received the highest number of mentioned treatments nominated as a priority are (ranked from highest to lowest):
• a new roundabout at Sternberg Crescent and Langdon Avenue (26.4%)
• a new signal at Sternberg Crescent and Comrie Street (14.6%) - (note that elsewhere some people have suggested lights are ‘overkill’)
• a new roundabout at Sternberg Crescent and Ashley Drive (7.3%)
• a new roundabout at Sternberg Crescent and Fincham Crescent (6.7%)
• a new signal at McBryde Crescent and Ashley Drive (5.1%)
• a new roundabout at Sternberg Crescent and Comrie Street (4.5%).
7. Do you have any further comments about the proposed traffic calming measures? Please feel free to email comments to / 143 people responded to this question. Other concerns that were highlighed including traffic lights, Fincham Crescent, Langdon Avenue, McBryde Crescent and Erindale Drive.
Top changes that are suggested by the community are:
1. speed cameras are preferred over speed cushions
2. roundabouts preferred on Comrie Street and McBryde Crescent
3. focus on Fincham Crescent – reduce speeding
4. make McBryde Crescent all 50km/h
5. safety of pedestrians and students on Langdon Avenue.
Changes that are not supported by the community:
1. too many speed cushions, due to noise and damage on cars
2. traffic lights at Comrie Street, due to congestion – prefer roundabout.
“Sternberg Crescent has become a high traffic street with often high traffic speeds - the traffic lights at Langdon Avenue will help the many older (and not so old) people crossing this busy street as they walk to and from the Erindale shops. A mini roundabout at Comrie Street / McBryde Crescent intersection would greatly assist traffic flow at this often congested intersection.”
“I think the problem is two fold (i) the increased volume of traffic through Wanniassa via Langdon Avenue, making it terribly dangerous for kids going to school. (ii) The excessive speed along Sternberg Crescent, particularly in front of Erindale College - it is lethal area and its only a matter of time before a horrible accident occurs. Option 1 is clever.”
“McBryde Crescent should have only 1 speed limit of 50kph over full length of the street. At the moment there are 3 different speeds.”
“A roundabout at the intersection of McBryde Crescent and Comrie Street would be a real help at the T-junction. In fact you might also think about one at the nearby Ricardo Street and McBryde Crescent intersection as a way to help traffic moving onto McBryde Crescent. My last suggestion would be to think about making Gartside Street a one-way street probably from the Vikings Club end towards the 7-Eleven. There is a large amount of traffic in that area on Friday and Saturday nights. I think it would make traffic flow easier. The area desperately needs more parking space at busy times with the number of food outlets and restaurants.”
“I believe speed cameras should be set up on all the streets not Wheeler Crescent, Fincham Crescent, Sternberg Crescent, McBryde Crescent. Etc.”
“Rather than roundabout on Cnr Fincham Street & Sternberg Crescent we need traffic lights as it is very difficult if not impossible to see cars coming up hill on the right. Roundabout would not fix this problem. Someone will be killed on this corner if no action taken.”
“Fincham Crescent needs traffic calming measures, even before the Sternberg Crescent treatment. Speeding is commonplace. A bump/chicane near the crest at Mahoney Street intersection would be beneficial, and the proposed roundabout at Fincham Street/Forlonge Street would also help (provided through traffic along Fincham Crescent was made to slow down to negotiate it).”
8. Are you satisfied with this opportunity to provide feedback on traffic management for Sternberg Crescent and surrounding streets in Wanniassa? / Satisfied (42.7%), Very Satisfied (47.2%), Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied (7.8%), Very Dissatisfied (1.9%), Dissatisfied (0.7%).
9. What is your gender? / Female (45.8%), Male (54.2%).
10. What is your age group? / 55 and over (57.8%), 35-54 (35.7%), 18-34 (6.5%), Under 18 (0.0%).
11. Do you speak a language other than English at home? / No (89.4%), Yes (10.6%).
12. Do you identify as a person with a disability? / No (91.8%), Yes (8.2%).
13. Do you identify as an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander? / No (99.2%), Yes (0.8%).
Themes emerging / Majority support for the traffic calming options proposed.
Majority support for Option 1 but not everyone that supports Option 1 agrees that traffic lights at Comrie Street are needed.
Support for more roundabouts at intersections and reduction in traffic speeds at a variety of intersections – see comments in table.
Support for more speed enforcement at night.
Support for pedestrian safety, especially near schools and shops.
Speed cushions are not popular.
McWhae Circuit and Sternberg Crescent intersection is congested and needs a solution.

Direct Contact Submissions

There were 13 emails received during the consultation period. These are summarised in Table 5.

Table 5: Stage 2 direct contact submissions

Community feedback
  • There needs to be more consideration given to traffic jams and need for crossings near the schools.
  • Concern over McWhae Circuit intersection and need to address egress issues there.

Stage 2 Consultation Recommendations

From this public consultation period support for Option 1 is clear. Outlined below are common issues that have become apparent, as well as recommendations for consideration in making further decisions and undertaking further consultation.

3.0Conclusions

In order for the community to be satisfied with this study the common concerns that were identified will need to be addressed. The table below highlights key issues identified and our recommendations regarding further actions, considerations or decisions.