General News
28 February, 2025
'Wombat crossings' to go
Removing so-called 'wombat crossings' from the junction of Firebrace and McLachlan streets has been greenlit by Horsham Rural City Council.
At council's monthly meeting on Monday, councillors voted to remove temporary speed humps and associated pedestrian crossings from the Firebrace Street-McLachlan Street roundabout, and to remove temporary speed humps but leave in place pedestrian crossings mid-block between Roberts Avenue and McLachlan Street.
Council will also seek from its officers a report investigating and providing recommendations on:
- the merit of well-designed raised pedestrian crossings compared to flat (zebra) crossings at intersections and compared to having no formal pedestrian crossings at roundabouts
- the merit of having a consistent approach to intersection treatments at all CBD roundabouts
- the pros and cons of providing mid-block pedestrian crossings at various locations within the CBD
- options for a staged approach to these treatments
- funding options for these works.
The decision to remove the 'wombat crossings' came "following massive community consultation", Cr Cam McDonald said in moving the motion.
"Council received massive pushback on this," Cr McDonald said.
"It has been an absolute problem for a lot of residents, and I do apologise that it's taken this council so long to correct this."
Cr McDonald described the move as the next step following the removal of parking meters from streets in central Horsham.
"This goes in concert with that to make our CBD a far more liveable space," he said.
The combined speed humps and pedestrian crossings trialled at the roundabout proved generally unpopular with the public, especially among people using mobility vehicles in those streets.