By Corey Everitt
The development of Officer’s Starling Road for incoming housing estates has stirred the ire of the community, with calls for a review into the future planning of Officer’s roads.
The northern half of the old road had works contracted by the developer starting at the end of 2024 as part of facilitating new housing developments through the area.
The result was not what residents expected with the road appearing to be narrower as well as an uncommon deviation at the point of the new section and the old.
The Officer District and Community Association (ODCA) wrote to Cardinia Shire Council asking if this was consistent with approved planning for the road and whether recent reviews of traffic levels were conducted.
The council responded by confirming that the developer did follow what was laid out in the Officer Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), which was first prepared in 2011.
The width is planned to be a standard 6 metres, the road doesn’t have a dividing line between traffic.
For what is accepted as a main thoroughfare in town, this development does not accord with residents’ expectations around traffic and safety.
“There are concerns that with the increased traffic usage of Starling Road since the initial adoption of the Officer PSP that the width of this road is not sufficient. Concerns are mainly that the road is not wide enough for trucks to pass oncoming traffic, especially another truck, safely,” ODCA President Tammy Radford said.
In the PSP, the classification of the Starling Road is split into two, marked by a future roundabout which will intersect with a future boulevard running east to west.
The southern half, which is not developed today, is declared as a connector road planned at 7 metres wide and will take up to 2.5 metres of neighbouring frontage for its widening.
The PSP states that the road will have a traffic level expected up to 7,000 vehicles per day.
The northern half, the one in question that is the first to be developed, is downgraded to an access street – level 2, which requires a six-metre width and the PSP declares this part will have up to 3,000 vehicles per day.
“Investigations found that the current road pavement width is 6 metres wide, which reflects the Officer Precinct Structure Plan and meets requirements for an access street and is similar to other adjacent roads. This is in line with both the approved plans and the recently constructed works,” the council’s General Manager Infrastructure and Environment, Peter Benazic said.
Despite being consistent with the PSP, the council has indicated that they are looking into measures to potentially widen the part of Starling Road beyond what was planned.
“In response to community concerns, Council is also reviewing the need, appropriateness, and cost to adjust and further widen Starling Road or adjacent roads to further support growth and traffic in the area, until additional roads can be upgraded in line with the PSP. These issues are being explored, and a further update will be provided in the coming weeks,” Mr Benezic said.
Starling Road connects to Siding Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares through the Officer town centre.
The road hosts two schools with accommodating buses using the road.
Existing farms, particularly orchards, have trucks that use the road to connect to the Princes Highway.
“Upon review, Council can reassure the community that heavy vehicles can safely access and use Starling Road,” Mr Benezic said.
Ms Radford said the matter should prompt a review of the future road network as planned in the PSP.
“ODCA would like to see that a solution is finalised sooner rather than later for the safety of all road users. With the development of residential lots happening very quickly on and around Starling Road, the usage of this road by all types of vehicles is increasing rapidly,” Ms Radford said.
“We also feel that a review of the road network to be constructed and/or upgraded within the Officer PSP should be conducted as a preventative measure, and will advocate for this to be done. Given that there has been some changes already to the road network since the initial adoption of the PSP, such as Station Street closing, predicted traffic usage on a number of the roads would now no longer be correct.
Ms Radford thanked the council for responding to the concerns of local residents.
The ODCA meets on the last Wednesday of every second month, their next meeting is on Wednesday 28 May at the Rob Porter Recreation Reserve.
