Bunbury council commits to Safe Active Street plan

The plan will involve engaging an independent consultant to undertake the design work and consultation and incorporate a range of measures, including single-lane slow points, traffic islands, tree planting and a road speed reduction, to provide a safer shared street for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

The pilot project is being funded by the Department of Transport, which reached out to the city to undertake a pilot project similar to that of the City of Bayswater.

The design work will determine whether the plan is suitable for Stirling Street prior to any community consultation, which was chosen due to its cycling connections, its character as a heritage area, low traffic volumes and residents requests for lower speeds in the area.

During the council meeting on March 3, Stirling street resident Del Ambrosius praised the plan and said she would like to see pedestrians prioritised over vehicular traffic.

"Would you believe it? I'm standing here agreeing with council," she said.

"I would like to see people and cyclists prioritised over vehicles.

"It's actually not about my property, but rather about future generations and future residents."

Councillor Tresslyn Smith then spoke in support of the motion, saying that she supported any project that aimed to improve the city's liveability.

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said Stirling Street was a popular area for both pedestrians and cyclists and the city looked forward to seeing what might be possible.

"It's fantastic that the Department of Transport has identified a street in our city for a possible Safe Active Street pilot project," he said.

"The city aims to provide attractive streetscapes and pathways to make it easier and safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, and any outside help we can get with this is welcomed."

Community consultation is expected to take place once the concept design is finalised in June 2020.