Community
22 May, 2025
Advocacy yields results
UPGRADES have brought greater safety and accessibility to Cooinda participants thanks to Corangamite Shire Council’s response to community-led advocacy.
Corangamite Shire Council this week completed upgrades at the intersection of Ewing Street and Dow Street, directly opposite Cooinda, which has seen the intersection raised to create a speed bump.
An all-abilities car park was also created on the raised roadway, which provides a flat surface connected to the footpath.
The additions not only slow traffic to make crossing the road at the intersection easier but also supports greater accessibility for Cooinda participants entering and exiting vehicles.
The improvements followed advocacy from Cooinda’s Speak Up Committee, in addition to Dow Street residents and the Terang Rotary Club.
Cooinda chief executive officer Janice Harris said the heightened use of the road due to the relocation of the Hampden P-12 primary campus, the Terang Children’s Centre, the installation of the reverse vending machine and the growth of Cooinda itself had made the upgrade a necessity.
“There were concerns about access with increased traffic because it’s become quite a busy street,” she said.
“We use it all day, every day.
“The shire has done a fantastic job – we asked about putting a ramp in to support the wheelchair-accessible parking as an extra, which is great.
“I think it was all done in about a day, there wasn’t much disruption at all.”
Cooinda general manager Phil Hose praised the Speak Up Committee for their advocacy, and the shire for their willingness to get on board with the proposal.
“Our Speak Up Committee got together and wrote to the shire highlighting the increase in traffic and speeds,” he said.
“A few months ago, the shire approached us and told us they would be putting in what we call a big speedbump, which will help slow traffic and increase safety for our participants – who often walk here to the centre or arrive in busses.
“It’s been a great outcome, and it’s a real pat on the back to everyone who has been advocating.
“I was very impressed with how quickly it was done, reinstating a great parking area for our busses with wheelchair access.”
Corangamite Shire Council Lake Keilambete Ward councillor Geraldine Conheady praised the upgrades as providing a much-needed safety boost.
“These improvements have greatly increased the safety of pedestrians and encourage more appropriate driver activity in Dow Street,” she said.
“I’m especially pleased for the Cooinda participants and their carers who can now cross the street more safely near a busy intersection.
“Cooinda and other residents of Dow Street had raised concerns with the increased volumes of traffic and speeds of vehicles in the street given the recent developments at the southern end, such as the introduction of the Terang Kindergarten, upgraded Terang College and the Hampden P-12 Junior Campus.
“In particular, Cooinda had raised concerns given its clients cross Dow Street to access the sports facilities in Ewing Street to the west.”
Cr Conheady said council had reviewed the concerns and felt the installation of pedestrian outstands in 2014 to assist Cooinda clients in crossing the road could be complimented through additional works which heightened both safety and accessibility.
“Taking into consideration the community concerns, and to complement the existing outstands, council has now installed a raised asphalt platform at the Dow Street and Ewing Street intersection which will have a further traffic calming effect,” she said.
“A concrete ramp has been installed alongside the all access car parking space at the site to help clients getting on and off the Cooinda bus.”
The platform and ramp were fully funded by the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Under the same program, council upgraded and sealed the southern end of Dow Street to accommodate increased traffic to and from the new facilities.
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