South Crescent in Northcote has become a discussion point again in 2024. During Darebin Council’s Your Street, Your Say Group B consultation period in late 2022, public feedback indicated that people wanted action and infrastructure to make South Crescent safer for people who ride bikes.

A brief overview

South Crescent runs alongside the Hurstbridge railway line from Dennis station to Westgarth station, at the southern end of Northcote. It presents a calmer east–west alternative for people who ride bikes than Westgarth Street, which has a speed limit of 60 km/h and supports bus routes to La Trobe University and Northland.

Pop-up bike lane

A pop-up bike lane was installed on the southern side of South Crescent (ie the west-bound side) in December 2020, and was supposed to be trailled until April 2021. During this time, Council noted a 22% increase in the number of people riding bikes along South Crescent. Council also noted an increase of 69% of ‘young people’, and surveys indicated that people who described themselves as ‘cautious’ bike riders were more likely to use the new bike lane. 

However, the pop-up bike lane did not improve safety for people riding bikes eastward, and there were community concerns with car flow. So, Council voted in March 2021 to remove the pop-up bike lane and to conduct public consultation on installing a ‘No Standing’ section between Plant and Simpson streets.

Your Street, Your Say Group B feedback

During the public consultation period from November 2022 to January 2023, numerous people posted comments on Your Street, Your Say Group B interactive map requesting the return of the bike lane and/or removal of parking on the south side of South Crescent to ensure safer passage for people riding bikes. In total there were 8 comments relating to cycling issues added along South Crescent, with a total of 24 ‘upvotes’ by other participants.

Subsequently, council staff analysis proposed that South Crescent be prioritised for safety improvements, and proposed a modal filter to prevent cars travelling the full length of South Crescent while allowing bicycles all the way through. On 18 December 2023, Council voted to endorse the top 20 recommended projects, which included South Crescent.

An amendment was passed for two options for South Crescent to be presented for public consultation: the modal filter in the staff recommendation, and the removal of some on-street parking on the south side near Westgarth station. The Mayor used her casting vote to break the tie; a common practice in this term. 

Following this meeting, Cr Dimitriadis called for a Special Council meeting to be held on 8 January 2024 where she put a rescission motion to reverse this decision. Rescission motions are not common at Darebin Council. In a further unusual step, Cr Dimitriadis proposed an amendment for YSYS Group B round 2 consultation in which she reordered the priority projects to solely focus on pedestrian crossings at school and childcare centre locations.

It is unusual for a Councillor to dismiss council staff analysis and set aside community voices to reprioritise road safety projects (except that, in this term we have regularly seen Councillors dismiss expert analysis by staff and vote for alternative proposals).

Cr Dimitriadis’s amendment to South Crescent proposed to consult the community on safety issues, but not to present a modal filter or parking removal as options to improve safety – completely dismissing community feedback from round 1 consultation and the analysis and proposals from council officers.

That particular element of the amendment was lost, while remaining elements were passed. Following a further amendment by Cr McCarthy, Council voted to consult the community on removing parking along the south side of the crescent near Westgarth station (ie the modal filter option was dismissed entirely). This marks Council’s return to its March 2021 position on South Crescent.

The reprioritisation of road safety projects in this way undermines community trust in council consultation processes. It sets a worrying precedent of Councillors overriding the will of the community. We hope that community voices will be heard more clearly during round 2 consultation, and that the community will have the opportunity to ask public questions and make public submissions when it comes time for Councillors to determine which projects will be funded.

What’s next for Your Street, Your Say Group B?

The reprioritised Your Street, Your Say Group B projects will now be presented for round 2 community consultation. Head to the YSYS website to subscribe for updates, so you will be alerted when the consultation opens.