Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine are closed this week. See the Road closures page for details.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is developing the Castlemaine CBD Road Safety Strategy to improve pedestrian, cyclist and traffic safety within the heart of Castlemaine. The CBD is a vibrant and busy area that attracts both locals and visitors, offering a wide range of shopping, dining and cultural experiences.
With increasing traffic volumes and growing demand for safer, more accessible streets, Council has identified the need for a comprehensive analysis of existing traffic conditions and road user behaviour.
The project is funded through the TAC Local Government Grant Program, which supports initiatives aligned with the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 and Safe System principles. The strategy will identify infrastructure improvements, traffic management measures and speed‑limit recommendations to reduce crash risk and improve safety for vulnerable road users.
The strategy will examine a range of issues affecting safety and movement within the Castlemaine CBD, including:
The strategy will also explore concept designs and potential interventions to improve accessibility, reduce vehicle speeds and create safer crossing opportunities across the CBD.
Community consultation for the strategy was undertaken in June–July 2024 through a combination of online and in‑person engagement activities. Consultation methods included:
During the engagement period, Council received:
The feedback received across all engagement activities was consistent, highlighting concerns about pedestrian safety, crossing opportunities, traffic speeds and the need for improved cycling connections.
Council has appointed Bitzios Consulting to prepare the Castlemaine CBD Road Safety Strategy. The consultant has completed the draft strategy, incorporating detailed traffic analysis, movement assessments and the extensive community feedback gathered during the 2024 engagement period.
The next steps involve undertaking community engagement to present the draft strategy and gather final feedback. The draft strategy will also be uploaded to SHAPE.mountalexander for broader community review and comment. Following this final round of engagement, the consultant will refine the strategy and action plan before preparing the final document for Council consideration.