65 A number of objectors raised concerns about the proposed road treatment and entry point to the car park for the supermarket and shops. This involves reconfiguring the lanes and painting chevrons and other line markings to create a right turn entrance into this site for vehicles travelling north. This variation to the road configuration also provides a right turn lane into Hollydeen Court which is opposite the site.
66 We were told that VicRoads had supported this road treatment, although VicRoads were not a party to the proceedings and made no submissions to us. We were also advised that VicRoads required an independent road safety audit. The plans which VicRoads support were forwarded to the Responsible Authority in October 2005 but objectors were unaware of these requirements and it wasn't until they were incorporated into the plans which formed part of the substituted plans that various objectors were alerted to this change in road configuration.
67 Some of objectors claimed the road treatment would adversely impact on entry and exit arrangements to their own properties opposite. Others claimed it would have a flow-on effect to the Cypress trees. Some claimed it may reduce bicycle lane widths and that there would be difficulties for vehicles such as large trucks and buses passing turning trucks when they attempted to enter the car park.
68 Mr O'Brien advised that the swept path analysis demonstrates that large trucks can ingress and egress the site in normal turning movements. He also advised that the recommended Thompson Avenue cross section will comprise 2.7 metre and 3 metre wide lanes, and there is no need to have lanes greater than 3m.He claimed that the proposed cross section is not substandard. He believed that the revised cross section can be achieved by shifting lanes 0.85m closer to the trees. He was also of the view that vehicles can turn across the turning lane to enter businesses opposite and that this access will act as normal intersection.
69 Mr Frank advised there was a need for a 3.6m footpath clearance and a 5.6m road clearance, but that not all trees have such clearance now. He advised that it was the Council's responsibility to maintain the required clearance. He recommended investigation by an arborist about the form of crossover. He also recommended supervision during road works and suggested there was merit in having kerb barriers for trees.
70 We consider that the right turn lane treatment is technically acceptable. However, we have some doubt about the ability of a great number of trucks and high vehicles to be accommodated in the Thompson Avenue road reserve itself due to the presence of the overhanging Golden Cypress trees. We also have some reservation about the entry arrangement because we are concerned that large/high vehicles entering, or more particularly exiting, the site will damage branches of the trees outside the site.
71 Most parties acknowledged that the Golden Cypress trees are probably an inappropriate species for a high trafficked commercial road. Nevertheless they are highly valued. Both Mr Tyblewich and Ms Heggen emphasised that the Golden Cypress trees are the single unifying feature of the street. We are concerned that these important trees will be put under added pressure due to this relatively tight entrance/egress arrangement. We are not aware of whether VicRoads appreciated the access difficulties related to these trees. It appears to us that VicRoads has made a decision purely in terms of traffic management, rather than the visual amenity of the road. These issues could not be canvassed because VicRoads was not a party to the proceeding.
72 We are also concerned that the new access arrangement to the site will create a de-facto intersection in a mid block location along this important avenue. The new arrangement involves multiple turning movements and relatively convoluted vehicle movements.