We are currently working on the permanent installation and upgrade of the two shared zones in Brunswick East, on Albert Street and Victoria Street, adjacent to Fleming Park.

As part of this installation, we are seeking artists to create a mural for John Street, which is adjacent to the Albert Street zone, and for the painting of the shared zone road surface.

This project is being delivered over the coming 12 months via the Victorian Government’s 2022 Living Local Fund Suburban Grants. This grant program provides dollar-for-dollar funding to support projects that improve accessibility, safety, and beautification in neighbourhood activity centres and shopping strips.

Making our streets safer

A shared zone is an area in which vehicles and people riding bikes must give way to pedestrians. The Road Safety Rules (Rule 83) state that ‘give way means a driver must slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision’.

These shared zones in Brunswick East are designed to make it easier and safer for all commuters to move through these areas - especially those who are walking. They are also designed to create better access to Fleming Park for pedestrians and improve the on-road cycling route to the city.

The speed limit for vehicles (including people riding bikes) within these shared zones is 20km/h because of the need to give way at any time. Safety for those walking is also increased by reducing the amount of through traffic through residential streets, while still allowing vehicle access for anybody who needs it.

Help us design a mural for these zones

To complement the Albert Street shared zone, we will be installing a mural to decorate the John Street closure. The area surrounding the mural will also feature seating and is designed to provide visitors with an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable space to rest, socialise, and enjoy their neighbourhood.

The road surface of the shared zones on both Albert and Victoria streets will also be painted with a pattern to mark the area. This pattern will also be informed by the brief created via your feedback and will replace the ‘bouncing balls’ pattern that was installed for the trial.

We will be seeking expressions-of-interest from local artists to create this artwork, and we want your help in building a brief. This brief will help the artists create a mural that is locally minded, beautiful and will complement the street.

The trials

These two shared zones were originally installed as trials in 2021. Throughout the trial period, we closely monitored the operation of the zones. We did so by engaging with you, our community via online surveys, intercept surveys and focus groups. We also conducted traffic survey counts and in-person observation.

These engagement activities deemed the trials a success, and in August 2022, Council unanimously endorsed both shared zone projects to be made permanent.

Our permanent designs are being modified based on feedback and data gathered during the trial period.

Previous engagement

How we've responded to community feedback so far

• Three new lights have been installed in Fleming Park to upgrade visibility of the shared zone entry points and key crossing locations.
• The location of the tree planter on Hutchinson Street has been moved closer to the kerb to make it easier for vehicles to negotiate the intersection with Albert Street (but still retaining the tree as an entry treatment).
• Two new public seats have been installed, one in John Street and one in Victoria Street. The seat in Victoria Street is currently under review based on feedback.
• To assist with short term drop off and loading activity, a 1/2P parking bay will be introduced in John St within the shared zone alongside the laundry.
• Large advance warning signage has been erected on all road approaches to the shared zone. The signs advise approaching drivers of the shared zone trial ahead as well as the 20km/h speed limit for the shared zone.
• To help pedestrians and cyclists navigate and understand the shared road space, we will also be installing new project information signage at key entry points from Fleming park, as well as at John St and Elesbury Parade.