Kensington locals urge immediate action on slippery tactile pavers

Kensington residents are concerned about the dangers that tactile pavers across the city pose for local safety, with many frustrated at the City of Melbourne’s lack of prioritisation to replace the pavers.

The concern was sparked by a post on a Kensington community Facebook page, where a resident shared their experience of slipping on a tactile paver at the corner of McConnell and Coote streets. 

The post quickly garnered attention, accumulating 47 comments from locals recounting similar incidents, particularly highlighting the pavers' dangerously slippery conditions when wet.

“Had a friend break their wrist after slipping on one of those,” one resident said.

“A friend of ours slipped on the platform one at South Kensington Station early last year. It was a wet morning. He broke his ankle! Poor guy was out of work for a long time,” another shared.

“Wife has slipped twice on these and I witnessed a bike rider lose control and flip,” one more added.

Known as tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs), these pavers feature raised bumps or lines designed to help people with disabilities navigate the streets, especially at intersections. 

However, despite the council’s assertion that the pavers are "tested to ensure they meet the slip resistance requirements specified in the Design for Access and Mobility Australian Standard," concerns continue to mount. VicRoads, for example, does not recommend TGSIs on gradients greater than 6.71 degrees.

One resident, who measured pavers on McConnell and McCracken streets, reported that many of the pavers had a slope of seven to nine degrees, indicating that they were too steep for the footpath and didn’t meet VicRoads’ standards.

Mel Hickford, who has experienced a fall herself, is particularly concerned for elderly locals, who are at greater risk of injury.

“We’ve got a lot of elderly people in the community who have lived here for years; someone’s got to do something about this,” she told North West City News.

Mel slipped on a paver at Smith and Hardiman streets after it had been raining. While her injury was minor, she worries about others in the community who may not be as “able-bodied”.

She contacted the council, who informed her that no budget had been allocated for replacing the pavers, but the issue would be addressed in the 2024/25 budget.

In October of last year, Mel followed up, only to learn that the council had "exhausted our funding for the 2024/25 budget" and would aim to prioritise the matter in July 2025 as part of the 2025/26 works program.

“Shouldn’t people’s health and wellbeing be a priority? It’s a hazard to everyone and they’ve done nothing about it,” Mel said.

A City of Melbourne spokesperson told North West City News that it invested more than $9 million annually to upgrade or renew asphalt footpaths throughout the city. 

As part of the city's footpath renewal program, ceramic tactile indicators are being replaced with granite, which is safer and less slippery. 

High-risk locations, such as medical precincts, are being prioritised, though the council encourages community members to report any hazards.

However, Victorian Greens leader and Melbourne MP Ellen Sandell has raised concerns over the safety risks, urging the council to act immediately.

“I have heard from several residents who have been injured after slipping on these footpath markings, some have been quite seriously hurt, and the markings are clearly unsafe. I’ve asked City of Melbourne to urgently upgrade them before more people are injured,” Ms Sandell said. 

“I am very concerned that the City of Melbourne is taking too long, and does not have scheduled construction dates for all of them to be upgraded – these need to be fixed now.” •