Cade Lucas
A Maribyrnong councillor and resident of Footscray’s Joseph Road apartment precinct said she was “extremely disappointed” her request that a road safety camera to be installed on Hopkins Street, was rejected.
Cr Samantha Meredith was informed by the Road Safety Camera Site Selection Committee last week that her latest attempt to have a camera installed along the busy Footscray thoroughfare between Whitehall Street and Dynon Road, was unsuccessful.
“I’ve written at least 10 times requesting speed camera, safety cameras red light camera and we always get knocked back,” said a frustrated Cr Meredith who made the requests both before and after she was elected to council in October last year.
In a letter sent to Cr Meredith and seen by Star Weekly, the Road Safety Camera Site Selection Committee said after considering a range of factors such as the crash history of the site, engineering and environmental suitability and existing measures, it had decided not to recommend the camera installation.
Cr Meredith said while the speed limit on that section of Hopkins Street was reduced to 40km/h last year, it wasn’t being enforced and remained “highly dangerous.”
“One only needs to stand on the corner to see that the majority of vehicles, cars, buses, trucks are going in excess of 60, despite it being a 40 zone,” said Cr Meredith who believes a camera and the issuing of fines would force people to slow down.
She said many residents had reported near misses at lights and pedestrian crossings on Hopkins Street as well.
“Also the Whitehall and Hopkins Street and the Hallenstein and Hopkins Street intersections are absolutely shocking.”
In November 2023, Footscray resident Frances Ramirez died while walking at the intersection of Hallenstein Street and Hopkins Street.
Cr Meredith is a former president of the Joseph Road Precinct Action Group (JRPAG) who are understood to be pursuing greater enforcement of the 40kmh speed limit along Hopkins Street.
A state government spokesperson said the Road Safety Camera Site Selection Committee was charged with ensuring cameras were located where they were needed most and that there were already six mobile road safety camera sites and one distracted driving camera site in Footscray and West Footscray.
