Jo McElvenny with her son Hamish at the dangerous intersection.
Camera IconJo McElvenny with her son Hamish at the dangerous intersection. Credit: Supplied/Dominique Menegaldo

Berlin Wall-cott divides cities

Anne Gartner, Guardian ExpressEastern Reporter

Mr Sutherland said negotiating with two councils on issues that affected both sides of Walcott Street meant many projects did not eventuate.

He said this was most evident in the lack of progress in upgrading the Walcott Street and Beaufort Street intersection.

‘A huge number of people complain about that intersection,’ he said.

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‘A working group came up with ideas to introduce permanent right turn bans and changes to pedestrian phasing.

‘The City of Stirling passed the changes but the City of Vincent refused.

‘Because it is the boundary of two councils, it is like there is a Berlin Wall that runs down the middle of Walcott Street.’

Mt Lawley resident Jo McElvenny said delays in improving the intersection meant the safety of motorists and pedestrians were at risk.

‘I live behind that intersection and cross it almost every day,’ she said. ‘I have seen a pedestrian hit and the other day there was a three car pile-up.

‘I first became interested in what was happening at the intersection when I was about eight months pregnant. Now my son is 10 months old and still nothing has changed.’

City of Stirling engineering design manager Paul Giamov said council had agreed last year to improvements at the intersection, but could not do any work until the City of Vincent agreed to the changes.

Vincent Mayor Alannah MacTiernan said bans on right hand turns could make it harder to get into the Mt Lawley precinct, which would have negative effects for businesses.

‘It is getting harder and harder to move around the area, and that lack of manoeuvrability is having a negative impact for a lot of the retailers,’ she said.

‘People are already saying it’s just easier to go up to IGA on Second Avenue than go to Mt Lawley. The proposed works are all very good for the businesses north of Walcott Street but not so good for the businesses in Vincent.’

See editorial page 7