Pedestrian plea

By Emma Sun
A LOCAL councillor has asked for safer and better pedestrian access in the Dandenong community.
City of Greater Dandenong Red Gum Ward Councillor Paul Donovan said at the council meeting last week that he had noticed the roads were very risky for pedestrians, particularly around shopping areas.
“Dandenong Shopping Centre is not set out for pedestrians,” Cr Donovan said.
“I think with the new developments there needs to be more allocated pathways for pedestrians so when you get out of the car there will be a pathway to lead you to a shop.
“I don’t see that much in Dandenong, I see it in shops in Casey and it’s not hard to do.”
Cr Donovan pointed out the crossing from the law courts on Langhorne Street was particularly dangerous.
“It’s very dangerous to cross that without a signalised intersection,” he said.
He hopes future estates and shopping centre developments will consider making the area safer for pedestrians.
“I’m mainly thinking for the future,” he said.
“Shopping centres and plazas that are built in the future needs to have better and safer pedestrian paths.”
Dandenong council’s acting development services director Peter Shelton said federal legislation and the Building Codes of Australia provided guidelines and standards in relation to safe paths of travel for pedestrians.
“Council takes into account these matters when assessing planning applications and when preparing reports for consideration by council,” Mr Shelton said.