Bring down the Barriers - Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill
Hinterland Motorcycle Levy program 2025/2026
@30Dec25
The Shire announced a community consultation for the State Government funded Motorcycle levy program. Submission closed 15 December 2025/
Detail of the proposals are still available on the Shire website (linked), and include a visual impact statement and specific road work plans for Main Creek Road, Baldys Road, Shands Road and Browns Road in the hinterland.
Our submission:
RHCA led a submission on behalf of Red Hill and Main Ridge community leaders.
A copy of this submission is available here (linked) and our audit of the roads.
The Shire advised they will now review all submission and contact us to discuss in late January, early February 2026.
Our recommendations were:
Our messages:
Consistent messaging is important.
RHCA is aware of a Main Creek Road group of residents driving a local campaign. Contact us for details.
Supporting documents:
Motorcycle Safety Levy Program - Projects - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Victorian government’s Motor Cycle Levy guiding document: making-roads-motorcycle-friendly.pdf
Vicroads Supplement to Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety & Barriers (2023) attached
Arthurs Seat Road - Black Spot Funding program 2024
An intensive campaign was organised by a coalition of Red Hill and Main Ridge community leaders for the removal and reduction of the barriers and signage installed, and traffic island, parking and pedestrian works on Arthurs Seat Road.
Two submission were made by RHCA and a petition with more than 2000 signatures was lodged at the Council meeting on 3 December 2025.
We achieved a review of the United Petrol station works, greater consultation for future road infrastructure program and had some chevron signs removed as a result. We were not successful in having the barriers removed.
Our requests were:
Removes the barriers and signage in front of Eldridge Estate along Arthurs Seat Road.The report completed by Safe System Solutions did not support this approach and provided road safety justifications for the barriers to remain in place as per the approved Blackspot project and as constructed.
Reviews and supplies data underpinning this Blackspot Program and consult regarding justification for retention of all the other barriers and signs on Arthurs Seat Road.The Safe Systems Solutions report reviewed all data associated with the Blackspot application that resulted in the funding of the works. The report confirmed that the data used to support the application was relevant and appropriate, including the signage and barrier treatments.
Commissions a fresh independent report on traffic movement in front of the United Service Station on Arthurs Seat Road and subject to community consultation, modify and rectify those works. An independent Road Safety auditor was engaged and officers consulted with RHCA as a result. Modifed works are being made currently.
Commits to community consultation regarding any future programs in relation to public infrastructure in the Coolart Ward, including Blackspot works. Officers agree and have been consulting on future projects.
@30Dec25
The Shire announced a community consultation for the State Government funded Motorcycle levy program. Submission closed 15 December 2025/
Detail of the proposals are still available on the Shire website (linked), and include a visual impact statement and specific road work plans for Main Creek Road, Baldys Road, Shands Road and Browns Road in the hinterland.
Our submission:
RHCA led a submission on behalf of Red Hill and Main Ridge community leaders.
A copy of this submission is available here (linked) and our audit of the roads.
The Shire advised they will now review all submission and contact us to discuss in late January, early February 2026.
Our recommendations were:
- To have your say - make a submission by 15 December 2025
- Encourage your neighbors to have their say too.
- Suggest practical alternatives rather than blanket disapproval, as this will help Shire officers find a compromise between safety concerns while respecting our rural landscape and environmental sensitivity that define the hinterland.
Our messages:
Consistent messaging is important.
- Thank you for consulting. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the Shire’s program of works and to ensure community views are properly considered.
- We are united in our position. The Red Hill and Main Ridge community strongly opposes the installation of unsightly double-rung roadside barriers on hinterland roads. There are better, less intrusive alternatives, including wire-rope safety barriers (WRSB) that are endorsed by the State’s Motorcycle Levy Program.
- Our roads are part of the Green Wedge. Safety, environmental sensitivity, and rural amenity must coexist. Infrastructure should respect the landscape character, biodiversity, and tourism value that define the hinterland.
- We want balanced, evidence-based decision-making. Future projects must deliver measurable safety outcomes, be proportionate to actual risk, and protect the region’s rural character and tourism economy.
- We support good investment, not unnecessary works. The community is concerned about misdirected Motorcycle Levy funding being used on low-risk roads, while higher-risk areas (such as the intersection of White Hill Road and Arthurs Seat Road) and basic maintenance (such as pothole repair and shoulder sealing) are overlooked.
- Transparency builds trust. The assessment and justification for all Shire road safety projects should be publicly available, consistent with best-practice governance and the Ausroads guidelines. An important part of our analysis is the total cost estimate and the benefit cost ratio (BCR) for each project,
- We seek collaboration, not confrontation. The community prefers constructive engagement, but we are prepared to mobilise public support and media attention, as demonstrated by our earlier 2000 plus petition, if our concerns are not addressed.
RHCA is aware of a Main Creek Road group of residents driving a local campaign. Contact us for details.
Supporting documents:
Motorcycle Safety Levy Program - Projects - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Victorian government’s Motor Cycle Levy guiding document: making-roads-motorcycle-friendly.pdf
Vicroads Supplement to Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety & Barriers (2023) attached
Arthurs Seat Road - Black Spot Funding program 2024
An intensive campaign was organised by a coalition of Red Hill and Main Ridge community leaders for the removal and reduction of the barriers and signage installed, and traffic island, parking and pedestrian works on Arthurs Seat Road.
Two submission were made by RHCA and a petition with more than 2000 signatures was lodged at the Council meeting on 3 December 2025.
We achieved a review of the United Petrol station works, greater consultation for future road infrastructure program and had some chevron signs removed as a result. We were not successful in having the barriers removed.
Our requests were:
Removes the barriers and signage in front of Eldridge Estate along Arthurs Seat Road.The report completed by Safe System Solutions did not support this approach and provided road safety justifications for the barriers to remain in place as per the approved Blackspot project and as constructed.
Reviews and supplies data underpinning this Blackspot Program and consult regarding justification for retention of all the other barriers and signs on Arthurs Seat Road.The Safe Systems Solutions report reviewed all data associated with the Blackspot application that resulted in the funding of the works. The report confirmed that the data used to support the application was relevant and appropriate, including the signage and barrier treatments.
Commissions a fresh independent report on traffic movement in front of the United Service Station on Arthurs Seat Road and subject to community consultation, modify and rectify those works. An independent Road Safety auditor was engaged and officers consulted with RHCA as a result. Modifed works are being made currently.
Commits to community consultation regarding any future programs in relation to public infrastructure in the Coolart Ward, including Blackspot works. Officers agree and have been consulting on future projects.
Further background to 2024 roadworks
RHCA and representatives from community organisations, detailed below, are working to facilitate change.
Our concerns
The Community was not consulted ahead of Council submitting for this Federal Blackspot funding, about the nature, scope and impact of the works once funding was approved nor about the separate works in front of United Service Station.
In conflict with their own Green Wedge policies, Council has compromised the rural landscape and the unique character of Red Hill cherished by residents and enjoyed by visitors.
The Program is overkill, utterly disproportionate to the empirical incident data and risk. It does not reflect balance between safety and preservation of the economic tourism value of the iconic hinterland.
The concurrent and separate program of works outside United Service Station was incoherent, was not requested by anyone in the local area and is suggestive of future chaos and unsafe movement of traffic. Again, it is disproportionate to the need and reflective of suburban solutions being imposed onto a rural setting.
Our Objectives
Representative organisations
Red Hill Community Association
Red Hill Football Netball Club
Red Hill Lions
Red Hill Fire Brigade
Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show Society
Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association
Hinterland Tourism Association
Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board
Short Submission to Council - 11 September 2024
Our short submission can be viewed here.
A more detailed submission is currently being prepared with facts and figures, and will be lodged around mid October. A copy will be available on this site once finalised.
Substantive Submission to Council - November 2024
Our detailed submission can be viewed here.
Petition Lodged - 6 December 2024
Media
The following article appeared in the SP News, on Instagram and Facebook.
RHCA and representatives from community organisations, detailed below, are working to facilitate change.
Our concerns
The Community was not consulted ahead of Council submitting for this Federal Blackspot funding, about the nature, scope and impact of the works once funding was approved nor about the separate works in front of United Service Station.
In conflict with their own Green Wedge policies, Council has compromised the rural landscape and the unique character of Red Hill cherished by residents and enjoyed by visitors.
The Program is overkill, utterly disproportionate to the empirical incident data and risk. It does not reflect balance between safety and preservation of the economic tourism value of the iconic hinterland.
The concurrent and separate program of works outside United Service Station was incoherent, was not requested by anyone in the local area and is suggestive of future chaos and unsafe movement of traffic. Again, it is disproportionate to the need and reflective of suburban solutions being imposed onto a rural setting.
Our Objectives
- Council to remove barriers and signage in front of Eldridge Estate along Arthurs Seat Road.
- Council to consult with the community providing justification for retention of all other barriers and signs related to this Arthurs Seat Road program.
- Council to commission a fresh independent report on management of traffic movement on the stretch of road in front of United Service Station, Focus, Red Hill General Store, Red Hill Garden Centre, Julian Newcombe Design and Red Hill BBQ and subject to community consultation on the recommendations made in that report, modify and rectify the works.
- Council to acknowledge the lack of community consultation and inadequate engagement ahead of making submission for this Blackspot Funding.
- Council to commit to genuine consultation and engagement ahead of any future program concerning public infrastructure in the Red Hill Ward.
Representative organisations
Red Hill Community Association
Red Hill Football Netball Club
Red Hill Lions
Red Hill Fire Brigade
Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show Society
Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association
Hinterland Tourism Association
Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board
Short Submission to Council - 11 September 2024
Our short submission can be viewed here.
A more detailed submission is currently being prepared with facts and figures, and will be lodged around mid October. A copy will be available on this site once finalised.
Substantive Submission to Council - November 2024
Our detailed submission can be viewed here.
Petition Lodged - 6 December 2024
Media
The following article appeared in the SP News, on Instagram and Facebook.
This front page photo and news article from Southern Peninsula News 18 December 2024 can be viewed here at Current Issue by Mornington Peninsula News Group - Issuu
