A FOUR-YEAR-OLD rule change by Main Roads is being blamed for the demise of street parties in Vincent – and even giving a raised finger to laneway cricket.
At its November meeting Vincent council was forced to rescind its Street Activation Policy, which was aimed at making community event planning easier by letting organisers use the City’s traffic management templates in their applications. The council also offered a ranger to help support the road closures and insurance coverage.
But in 2021 Main Roads ruled out the templates, saying all applications for street closures had to be designed and implemented by accredited traffic management professionals, foisting an added layer of cost and compliance onto volunteer organisers.
• Street parties will be a thing of the past thanks to “overkill” rules. Photo City of Vincent Facebook
None of the councillors who spoke on the item had anything good to say about the change, Cr Alex Castle noting she was forcing herself to “be polite”.
“This is ridiculous red tape that has hamstrung what should be a really simple process to make small gatherings of our community on their own street to have a Christmas party, safe,” Cr Castle said.
Mayor Alison Xamon said the change was “absolute overkill”, particularly as it also roped in laneways that weren’t intended to be thoroughfares.
“It’s very common for the laneways to be used for people to gather for street parties but also for groups of children to get together to be able to play and that should be a legitimate and recognised part of how we use our public spaces,” she said.
“I have to say that laneway cricket is a really fun exercise and some the sort of thing that we should be able to encourage people to do within what is effectively an extension of their backyard.”
The mayor said the change was a regression back to when cars ruled the street at the expense of communities.
The cloying hand of insurance companies also played a role in killing off the activation policy, as the council’s insurer saying third-party events would not be covered by the council’s insurance, as was stated in the policy.
Main Roads was contacted for comment.
by STEVE GRANT