Artwork in development
Talented artist Joseph Griffiths is developing a beautiful artwork which celebrates the plants of the basalt plains.
Stewart Street is an important connection, for pedestrians walking from from bustling Nicholson Street, through to the beloved green haven of CERES Community Environment Park located by the Merri Creek.
This is why Stewart Street has been recognised in our Brunswick Structure Plan, which aims to create people-friendly streets to better connect you to your favourite places in Brunswick.
Our aim is to improve the pedestrian amenity, walkability and presentation of Stewart Street between Nicholson Street and CERES/Roberts Street. A central objective is to create a continuous accessible path into CERES, which is missing from Stewart Street at the moment.
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Talented artist Joseph Griffiths is developing a beautiful artwork which celebrates the plants of the basalt plains.
We will be planting over 20 new trees, our new trees are growing off-site.
Works are underway for a new continuous footpath from Nicholson Street to CERES and 3 new pedestrian crossings.
The feedback you provided us in 2020 and 2023 has shaped the final design which is shown on the interactive plan below. Click on plan to enlarge, and the hotspots for more information about the upgrades we're making
We consulted with the community in late 2020. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience of Stewart Street!
You asked for more traffic calming measures
We’ve increased the extent of coloured road pavement to slow traffic turning into Stewart Street from Nicholson Street. The coloured paving will provide immediate cues to drivers to slow down when they enter Stewart Street. We’ve included a raised threshold and coloured paving wrapping around the Stewart / Roberts Street corner to slow traffic and provide a safer and more visible crossing into CERES. We’ve introduced a kerb outstand (part of the relocated bus stop) which will further slow traffic around the corner.
You asked for wider footpaths and new pedestrian crossings
There will be a new 2.4m wide footpath on the south side of Stewart Street. We will also widen the footpath between Ryan and Roberts Street to 2m, linked to CERES by two accessible, raised crossings. The widened footpath provides more space for wheelchairs and prams, and space for neighbours to pause and have a conversation. The experience of walking to CERES and nearby schools will be significantly improved, the raised threshold and new crossings will provide a sense of arrival and improved safety. The line-marking, coloured paving, and new pedestrian crossings will include signage to help make pedestrian crossings more visible to motorists. Based on community feedback we have also changed the location of the zebra crossing so that it leads directly into CERES.
You asked for better visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers
We will remove all of the high shrubs which block sight-lines on the Stewart and Roberts Street corner, and replace the shrubs with lower plantings. Existing trees will be retained, but low branches that block sight-lines be removed. We will also remove seven car bays on Stewart Street, and two on Roberts Street. The removal of these car parks will improve visibility around the Stewart/ Roberts Street corner significantly.
You asked for improvements to cycling
A safer, more convenient cycle link will connect to CERES and the Merri Creek trail. Cars will have to give-way to cyclists, with on road cycle symbols indicating this to drivers.
You asked for improved tree planting and garden beds
The streetscape improvements will include 115m2 of new garden beds including a rain garden which will help clean stormwater before it enters the drainage system. 20 new trees will be planted along the street, which will contribute to a cooler, more beautiful street with enhanced biodiversity and habitat. The majority of new plants and trees will be native species.
You asked for less conflicts with buses
The public bus stop will be relocated from Roberts Street to Stewart Street. There are many benefits of moving the public bus stop to this location including:
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on the Draft Concept Plan. We had valuable feedback through two rounds of engagement including from people living on or near Stewart Street, those travelling to the area on foot or by bike, and staff and visitors of CERES.
This community and stakeholder input has been critical in shaping plans that will work for everyone.
The feedback has shaped the Final Concept Plan which you can explore below. We have also prepared a summary of your feedback.
We try wherever possible to protect trees in Merri-bek. For this project, a central objective is to create a new accessible footpath on the south side of Stewart Street, between Nicholson Street and Ryan Street. In order to achieve this, we will need to remove a number of trees and shrubs because of the significant level difference between the road-way and the Cretan Brotherhood car park.
We will be planting many new trees and plants in this area to more than replace those which we will lose. The landscape will include more layered planting and tree species which are more appropriate for the location under the power lines.
Removing seven car bays on Stewart Street, and two on Roberts Street will ensure better pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle visibility and movement. Removal of the carparks will also make space for the raised threshold wrapping the Stewart St and Roberts St corner and for the relocated public bus stop.
Where are these carparks currently located?
On Stewart St:
On Roberts St:
The 503 bus comes all the way from Essendon Station to CERES. Public transport is essential for vulnerable and elderly communities, and Council supports the continuation of this service. It is important that the public bus stop is close to the CERES entry, so that everyone can easily access the Community Park. The bus does not stop frequently at CERES, but we know that some patrons really rely on it.
Buses can't safely turn left from Nicholson Street into Blyth Street. The intersection corner is too tight for them, so this is not a viable alternate route.
Making Stewart Street a one-way street, or single lane with yielding traffic would create congestion in surrounding streets, particularly at the Nicholson/Blyth Street intersection. Accessing Stewart Street would also be difficult for visitors to CERES, and it would be inconvenient for residents of Stewart and Roberts Street.
The Final Concept Plan includes extensive traffic calming treatments that will make Stewart and Roberts Street safer for pedestrians and cyclists, such as road markings and raised pedestrian crossings, as well as improved visibility and footpath accessibility.
It would not be safe for pedestrians to make Stewart Street a shared zone. We investigated the opportunity to include a shared zone at the corner of Stewart Street and Roberts Street with help from traffic experts. They advised that this corner was not a suitable location for a shared zone as the following Australian Road Guide requirements were not met:
The traffic calming measures included in the final plan will help to slow traffic and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst still retaining critical access to CERES and residential properties.
Currently the speed limit on Stewart Street is 40km/hr which is standard for local roads. The addition of traffic calming measures will make it more likely that drivers adhere to this speed limit. Feedback through the consultation process indicates that there is desire for further speed reductions to Stewart Street. In response, Council is advocating to the State Government Department of Transport and Planning for a 30km/h trial to be considered.
The feedback showed there was some interest in restricting access in Stewart Street to local traffic only, or introducing turn bans at peak times.
Council does not support installing "local traffic only" signage as this is not enforceable. In addition turn bans would have significant impact on local residents, CERES visitors and the broader community.
It’s expected that traffic calming measures included in the upgrade works will help to reduce vehicle traffic and the effectiveness of the works will be monitored.
Speed bumps are not compatible with buses. Small speed cushions which can be bus compatible, can lead to poor driver behaviour with motorists driving around the cushions onto the other side of the road. The raised crossing at the corner of Roberts and Stewart Street will have a similar impact as a speed hump and encourage drivers to slow down.
Strips of coloured paving in the roadway were considered as a visual cue to slow traffic, but there was concern that these could be confused with pedestrian crossings, and negatively impact pedestrian safety.
Rumble strips were also considered, but we know that these elements can be uncomfortable for cyclists.
the suite of traffic calming measures in the Final Concept Plan will make Stewart Street significantly more pedestrian and cyclist firnedly.
We are working with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to explore opportunities for a pedestrian crossing on Nicholson St.
Currently DTP has a number of urgent transport safety projects which take priority over this project.
We will continue to advocate strongly for this crossing.
There isn't sufficient space on Stewart Street to install separated cycle lanes. Cycling symbols stencilled on the roadway will alert drivers that they must slow down and give-way to cyclists.
Merri-bek City Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional custodians of the lands and waterways in the area now known as Merri-bek, and pays respect to their Elders past and present, as well as to all First Nations’ communities who significantly contribute to the life of the area.
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