Two further peafowl deaths in the Inner South on Tuesday have prompted community members to renew their calls for road safety improvements in parts of Red Hill and Narrabundah.
According to Convenor of local group the Narrabundah Peafowlers, Tim DeWan, the two young peacocks were killed when they were hit by a van on La Perouse Street on the afternoon of 27 April.
Mr DeWan wants a roundabout at the intersection of La Perouse Street and Carnegie Crescent, 40km/h speed limits on either side of the intersection and road markings like zigzags and peacocks to remind people to slow down for the benefit of the birds and residents. Four ‘peafowl crossing’ signs were installed at the intersection last year.
He says people taking “an extra 10 seconds” to get their destination could make a real difference to road safety in the area.
“This is a major thoroughfare for people coming from the south, people going to work in the City, people dropping their kids off at schools… but it’s still in the middle of a suburb, a community.
“We want less traffic and slower speeds,” he says.
“We’re happy to give it to the experts, and then [they] consult with us, with the community.”
Mr DeWan says the local peafowl are simply the unfortunate victims of increased dangerous driving in the area. He estimates 30 birds used to call the area home, with around nine killed in the last 10-or-so months.
Griffith resident Leo Dobes, a member of both the Griffith-Narrabundah Community Association and the Inner South Canberra Community Council, shares the concerns about dangerous driving in the area.
“There is speeding,” he says.
“But the bigger problem is there’s quite a number of stop signs at dangerous intersections and they’re totally ignored.
“It’s irresponsible and it’s going to cause an accident someday.”
Mr Dobes says the issues could be alleviated by more police in the area.
“I’m not an expert on what’s going to be best for that intersection,” he says. “We do need the government to have a good, hard look.”
The Peafowlers met with City Services Minister Chris Steel in March and are awaiting action on their concerns.
A spokesperson for Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) says the directorate has commenced a traffic study to identify road safety issues in the area, which is expected to be complete in July.
“Following this study, TCCS will undertake further engagement with the Narrabundah community,” they said.
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