We’ve received the following information from an alert resident. It highlights what can only be regarded as either sheer incompetence on the part of either, or both, the MRC and Council, or the continued utter disregard for local residents. Traffic management plans to handle “major events” at the Racecourse are nothing short of a disgrace. Over to you Councillors! What ‘punishment’ will be meted out to the MRC? Did our wonderful Glen Eira Traffic Management Department actually clap eyes on any plan and did they in fact okay it? Are they now supervising and overseeing this traffic mayhem?
Here’s part of the email and other info:
The road closures around the Caulfield Racecourse associated with the last two “major” events held at the Racecourse (Spring Racing Carnival – October, 2011 and the Caravan and Camping Show – March, 2012) were severaly criticised because there was less than 24 hour notice given to residents.
Today, the start of the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival, residents should be even more angry at the inability of the MRC and Council to properly inform them of the road closures – this time the advice might have been sent out early enough, but it’s totally useless IF IT’S WRONG – WHICH IT WAS!
Here’s the notice
What’s important here is the following:
The Caravan and Camping show notice stated “The following streets will be closed to all traffic from Kambrook Road:
- Eskdale Road, Newington Grove and Hudson Street at Kambrook Road; and
- Entry for residents will be via Bambra Road Only”
The closures took place at around 12 noon.
The above Spring Racing Carnival notification states “Residents of Hudson St., Payne St., Eskdale Rd., Newington Gve. and Redan Rd. should avoid using Glen Eira Road to return to their homes after 2.30 p.m.”
No mention of blocking the road but blocking commenced at 8.30 a.m. ( what happened to 2.30 p.m?)
No mention of Wyuna Road to Redan Road exit being blocked.
Redan Road is not blocked.
What impact does Glen Eira Road have on accessing these streets – should it be Bambra Road?
After the Caravan and Camping Show notification, Council stated “The recent notification provided by Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) to residents for the Caravan and Camping Show was disappointing and unacceptable and the MRC has been so advised.” This is the third consecutive time the MRC has stuffed it up – time for the three strikes you are out rule to be applied. It’s just not good enough that the information sent out to residents is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Oh and by the way, they need to change the configuration of the road blocks or have a Police presence at the Smith Street Roundabout – cars are mounting the nature strip and footpath to gain access to Bambra Road from Eskdale Road.
Here is the photographic ‘evidence’.
Glen Eira Debates 
October 13, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Ya know when you look at it the residents aren’t asking for much just timely and accurate info. Yet these two bodies which constantly claim they are “community minded” constantly prove they are not.
How hard can it be to provide accurate info in a timely fashion?
October 13, 2012 at 1:42 PM
As a nearby resident I agree that this is just not good enough – ain’t rocket science.
Çouncil should be calling the MRC this very minute and ensuring that nearby racecourse residents receive an apology, an accurate notification of road closures for next weeks Caulfield Cup and, although it’s very unlikely to happen, a free pass to the Cup.
October 13, 2012 at 2:36 PM
According to the bogus agreement, there’s supposed to be a traffic management plan for every single major event that goes to council. If they said yes to this then the whole hired out traffic department should be sacked. They can’t manage local streets on normal days so how can we expect them to manage this kind of event. Newton has a lot to answer for. This is his baby and the buck stops with him and the gang.
October 13, 2012 at 2:57 PM
It’s time this Council accepted that traffic management is their responsibility and eliminated the MRC from the equation. The MRC have clearly shown they are incapable of fulfilling the role. Lord knows we pay O’Brien’s traffic management consultants enough – they should be able to handle racecourse major events.
October 13, 2012 at 4:47 PM
In all the dealings with the mrc, residents have been ignored and their amenity put at the bottom of the priority list. Top ranking goes to whatever the mrc decides it wants to do – whether that be competent or not. Council has repeatedly turned a blind eye and allowed them to continue doing whatever they want. This is really irksome considering that councils have the power to insist on proper protection of its residents. Councils control local roads. They also control what signage can be put up and where. They also have the power to determine fence heights on parkland and countless other powers. That Newton and his staff fail to enforce the letter of the law on so many occasions and to the continued detriment of local residents is inexcusable. I dread to think what will happen to local streets and environment once the C60 is underway and trucks, noise, pollution make living in the area totally unbearable. Judging on how major events have been handled the future for residents looks bleak indeed.
October 13, 2012 at 5:13 PM
and we have to listen to the music all day. listening to drums in my house at the moment. Followed by concert tonight and next week
October 13, 2012 at 6:04 PM
And still more closures – Kambrook Road heading towards Glen Eira Road – no entry from Balaclava Road and no entry from Station Street (traffic from Kambrook Road carpark all directed up Kambrook Road to Redan Road and Balaclava Road). Kambrook Road from Glen Eira Road to Smith Street also blocked.
Makes a certain amount of sense, however, there is no mention of Kambrook Road closures in the MRC letter or any of the road closure signage around the racecourse. Yet another well deserved huge black mark to the MRC and Council.
October 13, 2012 at 8:09 PM
Why oh why oh why did Council decide to undertake works on Sir John Monash Drive now. Since the road was closed, taxis didn’t know where to go. An absolute disaster for racing on what should have been a great day. Sack Newton on Monday and put in someone who can manage such simple projects. Anyone with half a brain would know that this closure should have taken place after the spring carnival and even better during UNI holidays. Numnuts!
October 14, 2012 at 12:26 AM
Who is the alert resident – Forge or Penhullariak???
October 14, 2012 at 9:53 AM
good to see all the empty beer bottles in Queens Avenue in the alcohol free zone on Sunday Morning