How to ask for a Road Safety Review

If you think we should be undertaking a review in relation to Road Safety matter you can lodge an application for a review.

The time frames for a review do vary depending on the complexity, workloads, seasonal and weather factors, however we are generally able to complete a review within the specified time frames.

Before lodging an application for a Road Safety Traffic Management review, we encourage you to:

• Review the information available on our website relating to your area of concern:

  New streetlights or upgrade
  Streetlight Glare/ shading
  New road signage, line marking / parking
  New pedestrian crossings and foot paths
  Speed limit reviews
  Bus stop and shelter requests

• Take the time to consider the information as this may answer your concern.
• The information will assist you to lodge your application.

The application for a review will follow a process that consists of a number of steps and actions. A general overview of the process is set out below. Not all investigations proceed through every step. You will receive a written response to your application when it is lodged, when steps have been completed, and as soon as it is resolved.

Step 1. Acknowledgement

When you lodge the online application form for a RSTM Review the system will send you an email informing you it has been lodged successfully on the day of lodgement. 

Step 2. Initial Investigation

A member of our RSTM Team will make contact with you within 10 business days of the application being registered. They will go through the information in your application and clarify the issue and concerns that you are seeking Council address.

If it is possible to address you concern based on the information and resources Council has to hand, we will do so, however it is often necessary for team members to inspect the site.

Outcome: Issue is resolved otherwise next step

Step 3. Field inspection

A team member will schedule in a field inspection (generally within 15 to 25 business days depending on the type of request from when your application is lodged) to make observations, take measurements, seek to confirm what is the cause of the concern on site, assess the level of risk to the community and what the options might be available to resolve the issue.

If the RSTM issue potentially involves another agency such as the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), we may refer the issue to that authority for resolution or advice. If the issue is not a Council responsibly, we will close the review and inform you that the matter has been handed on to the responsible agency.

If the issue is a Council responsibly but we need to consult with another agency, we let you know.

Outcome: Issue is resolved otherwise next step

Step 4. Data gathering

Some RSTM concerns can require additional data to be gathered such:

• Speed and traffic counts
• Observations of the network and pedestrian movements
• Observations of streetlights at night

The timeframes for gathering data are dependent on what data must be collected the availability of speed meters to be deployed and the timelines required to gather traffic counts over the relevant period. Priority is given to higher risk issues (this can cause a delay to lower risk reviews).

Data gathering is usually complete within 45 business days from the date your application is lodged, but we will advise you if we expect a delay. We sometimes start data gathering earlier in the process based on the type of review.

Outcome: Issue is resolved otherwise next step 

Step 5. Final Assessment

The final assessment captures the findings of the review. You will receive a response advising you of the outcome of the review, usually within 100 business days from the date you lodged the application.

Outcome: Application resolved.

Response times do vary based on the complexity including the number of process steps. As a guide indicative time frames have been based on low, medium, and high complexity are provided below in business days.

If the RSTM review determines a change is necessary to either the traffic, line marking, parking, pedestrian or lighting conditions, we will plan to have these works undertaken.

The type of review will require a specific response generally as indicated below:

New streetlights or upgrades

Surf Coast will make an application to Powercor to establish the cost for the streetlight and the install of the works.

Powercor are responsible for installing the lighting if Surf Coast believes the cost is acceptable. Sometimes the costs are very expensive, and alternatives need to be considered such as solar powered lights.

It can take Powercor up to three months to schedule and undertake the lighting installation once Surf Coast has agreed to the costs.

Streetlight glare

 An application is made by Surf Coast to Powercor for the installation of the baffling or to alter the light. It can take up to three months for Powercor to undertake the rectification works to the streetlight.

New road signs, line marking and parking

Surf Coast Shire will undertake the necessary works. If needed, we will prepare a plan to guide the required changes and schedule the works with the Operations Team. Generally, works are completed within two to six weeks depending on the type and location of those works.

New Pedestrian Crossings

If Surf Coast agrees to the crossing location, a design will be prepared. Funding is often dependent on whether there is sufficient budget allocation available within the Road Safety Program. Projects are pre-allocated in the preceding 12-month period. This means a new pedestrian crossing may take a full 12-months before it is installed in the next financial year.

Speed limit reviews

It can take DTP up to six months to respond to councils’ formal application for an approved change to a speed limit. When DTP has approved a change to a speed limit or zone, Surf Coast will schedule and install the changed speed limit zones.

Traffic calming

Recommendations for changes that include traffic calming works must be referred through to the Road Safety Program for consideration. If funding is available and the project is small, it may be possible to organise the works quickly within a three-six month period. Work commencement times are dependent on what has already been committed to at other locations.

Larger traffic calming projects are usually funded and commenced in the following financial year, and when it is of significant scale it may take 6-12 months to complete. Community awareness becomes a priority in the planning and rollout of larger projects.

Bus shelters

New bus shelters are referred to the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) for funding. If funding is granted, the works are programmed once the commitment to funding has been obtained.

Surf Coast currently has and maintains over 70 bus shelters. In addition to new shelters that may be provided, Surf Coast budgets for the replacement of two or three bus shelters a year to bring older shelters up to standard.

Road Safety Program

The Road Safety Program is a 12 month program of works funded under the Surf Coast annual budget process. Allocations are for known commitments with provision for smaller emergency works to be undertaken during the 12 month period.