Local communities safer thanks to TAC grants

02 Aug 2016

Victorian communities have received a road safety boost after 11 community groups and organisations were awarded a share in more than $250,000 under a Transport Accident Commission grants program.

Transport Accident Commission Chief Executive Officer Joe Calafiore announced the latest round of projects to receive up to $25,000 under the Community Road Safety Grants Program.

“Every Victorian has role to play if we are to achieve our vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on the roads so it is terrific to see these organisations innovating and showing leadership in their communities,” Mr Calafiore said.

“Our road safety agencies are working hard to create a safer environment for Victorians but sometimes there are issues within our local communities that can really benefit from local people thinking creatively and coming up with their own solutions,” Mr Calafiore said.

The 11 organisations received funding for 13 projects, including:

• $25,000 for a study examining interactions between cyclists and drivers in Melbourne’s CBD to inform a project to reduce collisions between bikes and cars. (RMIT University)
• $19,800 to establish an interactive road safety information and advice hub at KidSafe Victoria’s Community Support Centre at the new Monash Children's Hospital. The hub will provide information on road safety issues, including using child car restraints, pedestrian safety, driveway safety and the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars. (Kidsafe Victoria)
• $25,000 for an education program to support safe bus travel and address a range of anti-social behaviours involving buses. (Bus Association Victoria)

The grants program has been running since 2008, targeting a range of issues including speed, pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, drink driving and driver education.

It is open to community and not-for profit registered groups who can identify a road safety issue and come up with a proposal to fix it. Applications for the next round of Community Road Safety Grants close on August 12.

Successful applicants for the latest round of Community Road Safety Grants:

• The Amy Gillett Foundation has received a $10,000 grant for a pilot project on the climb between Lorne and Benwerrin on the Deans Marsh Rd. The road is heavily used by cyclists and the pilot project will use solar-powered signs to warn drivers when there are cyclists in the area.
• Baw Baw Shire Council received two grants. $25,000 will be used to expand its variable message sign (VMS) trailer fleet to provide important safety information for drivers and riders on popular motorcycle routes and trail bike areas. $29,400 is for safety upgrades at the Tetoora Road Community Centre carpark, to improve safety for motorcyclists and drivers using the rest stop.
• Bus Association Victoria (BAV) will use a $25,000 grant for an education program in association with Kids on the Move road safety program, addressing a range of issues affecting the safety of bus drivers, passengers and others in the community. It follows incidents of people throwing rocks at buses, bus surfing and dangerous behaviours.
• City of Stonnington has received a $26,600 grant to purchase and install three new breathalyser units and upgrade four existing units at sporting clubs. It will also fund two responsible service of alcohol training courses and seven sessions of the Looking after our Mates program.
• Road Safe Central Victoria (Macedon Ranges) will use a $9,900 grant to provide a safe cycling and general road safety program for Year 11 VCAL students. The program will focus on the development of practical cycle safe activities, enabling participants to mentor year seven students and students at a neighbouring special school.
• Hindmarsh Shire Council will use the $24,992 grant to purchase a new variable message sign (VMS) trailer to support road safety programs and provide advice to motorists about road conditions, traffic hazards and general road safety reminders.
• KidSafe Victoria has received a $19,800 grant towards an interactive road safety information and advice hub at the new Monash Children's Hospital. The hub will provide a one-stop shop for parents, carers, health professionals and the general community to access information and advice on a wide range of road safety issues.
• Road Safe Eastern Metro Inc will use a $2,301 grant for a purpose-built trailer for a community outreach program delivering road safety sessions to community groups. The program, to be run by trained Road Safe and Victoria Police members, will focus on young drivers, older drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists as well as Child Restraint Clinic users.
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) will conduct a $25,000 study examining interactions between cyclists and drivers in Melbourne’s CBD, to inform a project to reduce collisions between bikes and cars. A second grant of $24,983 will be used for a study to better understand conflict between pedestrians and cyclists near its CBD campus. It’s hoped this study will help RMIT students can get to and from the university safely.
• Wallan Secondary College will install a 3.8m high fence to prevent balls going on to the Northern Highway. The $23,565 project will enable students to safely use a newly-developed soccer pitch which is presently out of use.
• Wedderburn Lions Club will use replace the existing caravan used at the Ryan's Creek Driver Reviver site on the Calder Hwy with a grant of $30,000.