Funding for safety measures on Poplar Rd in Parkville removed

Funding for overdue safety upgrades at the dangerous Poplar Rd “s-bend” near Royal Park Station has been cut from the City of Melbourne’s draft 2025–26 budget, sparking frustration among community groups and residents.

The notorious intersection is regularly crossed by families with young children travelling to Melbourne Zoo, and it also cuts through the popular Capital City Trail, which is heavily populated by people running, walking, and cycling.

In 2022, North West City News reported on the announcement of $1.5 million for safety upgrades under a joint funding arrangement between the state government and the council. The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) led stakeholder consultation and designs.

But in the three years that followed, no progress has been made. While the council’s $750k was originally carried over from the 2022-23 budget to 2023-24, the allocation has since been deleted in the most recent draft budget for 2025-26.

Protectors of Public Lands Victoria secretary Michael Petit attributes this to state government’s failure to provide its $750k contribution.

“Originally, the council put up half of the money and said the state government needs to contribute the other half because government has dual responsibility for keeping people safe,” Mr Petit told North West City News.

“Now, the state’s not coming to the party and the council’s withdrawing their funds because of this.”

In a submission to the draft budget, Protectors of Public Lands Victoria, Friends of Royal Park, Royal Park Protection Group and the Parkville Association called for the council’s contribution to be reinstated and used to install a pedestrian crossing as an interim measure.

We want the council to start doing something,” Mr Petit said. “Even if they have to do some kind of temporary measure so that people can cross into Royal Park without risking their lives.

Mr Petit also called for the council to “start lobbying the government with some real emphasis,” to raise its share of the $1.5 million, rather than “sit there and wait for a tragedy to get the state government’s attention.”

The City of Melbourne told North West City News that the “community is keen to see this project progress,” and is “continuing to work closely with the Victorian Government to get it done.”

A council spokesperson said that in the meantime, it planned to install temporary speed humps along Poplar Rd to “help improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”

The council expects these will be completed in the coming months.

However, Royal Park stakeholders, whose advocacy was key in securing the original funding, are frustrated by the long delay in upgrading this section of the road.

“We’re not happy,” Mr Petit said. “The council’s given it their best shot, but now they’ve given up,” adding that the state government must “make good” on its funding commitment.

“It’s not good enough to wait until someone dies to do something,” he said.

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said that no funding commitments had been made by the government towards the project, but that future funding opportunities would be considered as part of ongoing planning for improvements.

“We are continuing to work with the City of Melbourne to look at possible upgrades to improve safety around the Royal Park Station Precinct on Poplar Rd.” •