Partial closure of Campaspe Street in Elmore elicits ire of residents

The southern block of Campaspe Street, which runs along the Campaspe River at the outskirts of the town, was closed by the City of Greater Bendigo in early April.

Elmore Progress Association president Bruce Anderson said the organisation wrote to the council to voice their displeasure at the closure having been undertaken without consultation and in reply, he received a call from one of the council’s engineers who apologised for the lack of dialogue with the community and said it would not happen again.

Campaspe Street resident Bruce McKenzie also said there had been no notification of the road closure.

City of Greater Bendigo engineering and public space manager Brett Martini said the now-closed section of the road was not a formal road reserve, but part of the Campaspe River Reserve.

He acknowledged there had been no consultation before the road was closed, but did not say why this was the case.

“The City will continue to monitor the closure and feedback from the Elmore community,” Mr Martini said.

Mr McKenzie said several people would drive that section of the road each day and some used it to transport farm machinery, such as combine harvesters, to avoid taking it through the streets of the town.

He said by using Campaspe Street, machinery could avoid travelling past the front of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, which was particularly important when there was an event, and the front of the school.

But Mr Martini said the road had been used as a shortcut when nearby Jeffrey and Clarke streets were “more appropriate”, being sealed and of sufficient width to accommodate such machinery.

He said the closure was prompted by complaints from the community.

“The City received complaints about speeding vehicles and dust in Campaspe Street and an investigation of the street also identified poor geometry of the intersection of Campaspe Street with Jeffrey Street and the potential for accidents to occur at this intersection, particularly if traffic on Campaspe Street increases,” Mr Martini said.

Mr McKenzie said he was unhappy that the road remained closed after one complaint, when several people had voiced opinions in favour of reopening it.

Mr Martini confirmed a complaint about dust and speed had brought on the investigation of the street, which uncovered the safety issues.

CFA District Two operations officer Chris Jacobsen said the closure would have “minimal, if any impact” on the operations of the Elmore brigade.

Mr Jacobsen said the brigade still had access to that section of the road and riverside because it was able to get around the signs and barriers on the road if it needed.