Kristian Horvath - Community Advocate

Several residents have contacted me with concerns about noise disturbances, particularly from hooning, near the intersection of Provence Drive and Carlton Beach Road.

To better understand the impact on the community and explore possible solutions, I’ve organised a short survey. You can view the survey results, community meeting and action progress.

While there’s no quick fix, I’m committed to working with both state and local governments and learning from how other neighbourhoods have tackled similar issues.

SUMMARY

• Survey sent out to residents.
• Results collected and shown below.
• Community meeting held on Sunday Aug 31 with the key takeaways shown below.
• Met with Council held to discuss these issues and ideas scheduled on Sept 16.
• Follow up meeting with Council on Friday Oct 25.

2nd Meeting with Council (Friday Oct 25)

On Friday, October 24, we met with Sorell Council to discuss the ideas raised during our initial meeting. A big thank you to everyone at Council for their time and effort. Here’s a quick update:

Modification of intersection to reduce short-cutting on Provence Drive
Council investigated residents’ concerns about trucks cutting through Provence Drive when travelling from Dunalley to Dodges Ferry (turning down Provence Drive instead of Carlton Beach Road when travelling along Carlton River Road). They found the intersection of Carlton Beach Road and Carlton River Road is difficult for trucks to navigate and will modify it to make turning easier. This is a great outcome for everyone.

Trial traffic island on Provence Drive to reduce burnouts
Council plans to trial a temporary traffic island on the corner of Provence Drive and Carlton Beach Road. Residents have reported vehicles losing control and hitting fences in this area. If the trial is successful, a permanent island will be installed.

Investigation of traffic islands on Moomere and Moonar Streets
Council is exploring options to install temporary traffic islands at the intersection of Moomere and Moonar Streets. Cars have damaged fences and letterboxes here on several occasions due to burnouts, so this could provide a safer solution.

Tree planting on nature strips as a speed-calming measure
Council has agreed to review a proposal from residents to plant trees or shrubs along nature strips as a way to slow traffic. We’ll soon conduct a survey of Provence Drive and Carlton residents to gauge interest and preferred plant types. Based on feedback, we’ll develop a plan to present to Council, starting with Provence Drive. Once confirmed, we’ll seek funding through grants. Residents who request trees will be responsible for watering and maintaining them until they’re established.

Trial speed cushions on Provence Drive
Council can install temporary speed cushions on Provence Drive to reduce traffic speed. These will be reviewed after about six months. If effective, permanent ones may be considered.

Speed cushions are designed to slow vehicles without creating the same noise as regular speed humps. They are also shaped so that larger vehicles such as trucks and buses can pass between the cushions without needing to drive over them. In other areas of Sorell, the installation of speed cushions has significantly reduced speeding and burnouts.

Council will identify suitable locations, and we’ll engage with nearby residents to determine if local residents would like to install them as a trial. We will speak to residents who will be located directly across from the proposed areas. 

Road markings on Provence Drive
Council will investigate adding white line markings to Provence Drive to improve pedestrian safety and encourage safer speeds.

“Local Traffic Only” signage
Council has decided not to install a “Local Traffic Only” sign on Provence Drive, citing concerns about excessive signage and setting a precedent for other local streets.

Meeting with Council Summary (Tuesday Sep 16)

Here’s a quick update following our recent meeting with Sorell Council regarding ongoing concerns about hooning and speeding on Provence Drive and surrounding areas (Thanks Leonardo for writing up the summary!).

Kristian and Leonardo met in Sorell Council with the Manager Community Relations and the Manager Infrastructure & Assets to discuss these issues. It was encouraging to see the council open to community feedback and noting down actions to follow up. However, it was surprising to learn that both council representatives noted they could not recall specific complaints (hooning or safety) from this area but acknowledged there must have been some, given that speed counters have been installed here over consecutive years. At this stage, Provence Dr is not currently on council’s medium to long-term plan for improving road safety or pedestrian viability. Here is a summary of the items that have been discussed.

Response to hooning

Council’s response to hooning was to call the non-emergency police line. At our next public meeting, we will present a plan for what we as a community can do to remove the social license for hooning and dangerous driving in our area. We will call this meeting as soon as we have a date set for our follow up meeting with the Council.

The Council are investigating the installation of traffic islands at the corner of Carlton Beach Rd and Provence Drive (and possibly other identified hot spots) as a trial to reduce burnouts in the area.

Traffic count data:

Council recognised the significant traffic volume on Provence Dr, in particular in the last year. They suggested the high counts may relate to when the speed counters were in place (February/school holidays). In addition, Google Maps sometimes directs drivers to the beach via Provence Drive rather than Carlton River Road, which may account for some of the tourist-related traffic.

Footpath

Regarding having a footpath in Provence Dr, the Manager Infrastructure & Assets explained there is a very long backlog of streets awaiting footpaths. New footpaths are usually funded through a state grant scheme. When asked how streets are prioritised, the process did not appear to be very transparent, factors mentioned included resident numbers, bus stops and traffic count data. Surprisingly, Provence Drive is not on any priority list, despite having two bus stops (public and school) and significant traffic count data. The list, however, is constantly changing and updated regularly.

Provence Drive no-through road:

The proposal to make Provence Drive a cul-de-sac was immediately flagged as a very difficult option to pursue, at least at this initial stage.

On the other hand, council representatives seemed more supportive of investigating some lower-cost options, specifically:

• Reviewing potential traffic calming measures, such as planting trees and installing additional white reflector posts.

• Investigating the option of “local traffic only” signage on Provence Drive.

• Adding Provence Dr to the speed counter schedule (avoiding school holidays), with a possible trial during winter.

We’re planning to meet again with the council’s representative in approximately three weeks for an update on these actions. Please be in touch if you have any specific questions, suggestions or feedback.

Thanks again to everyone for raising these issues and for continuing to work together to improve safety in our neighbourhood.

As soon as our next Council catch up is locked in, we will organise another public meeting to discuss. In the meantime, you are very welcome to call Kristian on 0431 123 486 if you have any questions or ideas.

Community meeting summary (Sunday Aug 31)

Thank you to everyone who attended the recent community meeting. Together we identified three main areas of concern for Provence Drive and nearby streets:

1. Hooning and dangerous driving

2. Speeding traffic

3. High traffic volumes

We discussed practical ideas to address these issues and how we can work with Council, State Government, and Police to take action.

We’ll be presenting these ideas to Council at our meeting on Wednesday, September 10 to discuss what can be done now, as well as longer-term solutions. Our hope is not only to improve safety in our own area, but also to provide a model for other neighbourhoods facing similar challenges.

1. Hooning & Dangerous Driving

• Police Response Research
  Hooning is a serious safety issue. Residents are encouraged to call the non-emergency police line 131 444 if they see or hear hooning. Although police may not be able to respond immediately, these calls enable better data to inform prevention and enforcement measures

• Road Traffic Islands
  This may reduce the space available for burnouts. Suggested locations:
  - Corner of Provence Dr & Carlton Beach Rd
  - Corner of Loop St & Carlton Beach Rd
  - Corner of Moomere and Moonar

(See example below)

• Cul-de-sac Option
  Residents discussed the idea of closing Provence Drive at one end or making it entry-only to stop loop driving. Any change would require significant consultation with residents.

• Raising Awareness
  A resident letter will be prepared to share survey data and community experiences, helping reduce the “social license” for hooning and unsafe driving.

2. Speeding Traffic

• The average detected speed was 59 km/h in a 60 zone, which suggests most cars are travelling at or near the limit—but residents still feel unsafe due to driver behaviour and location context.

There was strong support for “natural” speed calming measures, such as:

• “Children at Play” or bus stop signage
• Zebra crossings & reflector posts
• Painting line markings on the road (this could also improve pedestrian safety)
• Planting more street trees (with community involvement)
• Wildlife awareness signs (for echidnas, wombats, etc.)
• Street narrowing or chicanes to naturally slow cars

Residents were generally not keen for the installation of speed bumps. 

For a good explainer on natural speed calming, see the video below

3. Managing Traffic Volumes

• Speed counter data suggests high traffic volumes may be due to cut-through drivers using Provence Dr between Carlton River Rd and Carlton Beach Rd.

• Ideas included:
  - Requesting “Local Traffic Only” signage
  - Exploring other Council-led traffic management options

Next Steps

• Meeting with Council scheduled for Wed Sept 10

Road and speed data on Provence Dr

A summary of the road and speed data on Provence Dr

SURVERY RESULTS

Responses: 51

Where do you live? (by No. of reponses)
Carlton Beach Road - 2
Carlton River Road - 11
Dodges ferry - 4
Dunalley - 1
In the Carlton area - 22
Lewisham - 2
Riviera Drive - 3
Provence Drive - 6

Do you experience noise disturbance from vehicles (e.g. hooning) in the area where you live?

Does the Noise disturbance from vehicles (e.g. hooning) in your area have a negative impact on you and/or your household?

Please provide more detail to your answer to the above question if possible. This could be times of the day it occurs, frequency, the impact it causes and what you have observed (please do not provide any specific identification details).
(Arranged into themes)
Safety: Cars and dirt bikes speeding, burnouts, and losing control near homes, schools, bus stops, playgrounds, and the surf club. High risk to children and pedestrians
Noise: Loud exhausts and tyre screeching, especially nights and weekends, regularly disturb sleep and daily life.
Pollution/Damage: Smoke, burnt rubber smells, skid marks, and tyre debris left on roads.
Hotspots: Provence Drive, Carlton Beach Rd, Carlton River Rd, Moomere St, Quarry/Lewisham/Old Forcett intersections, Snake Hollow playground, surf club carpark.
Impacts: Anxiety, stress, loss of sleep, families considering moving away.
Enforcement: Residents frustrated at lack of police action; call for stronger enforcement and traffic calming.

Do you experience/observe dangerous driving in your area (e.g. vehicles driving fast/speeding)?

Please provide more detail to your answer to the above question if possible. This could be times of the day it occurs, frequency, the impact it causes and what you have observed (please do not provide any specific identification details).
(summarised)
Cars and bikes regularly speed, do burnouts, and tailgate on Provence Drive, Carlton Beach Rd, Carlton River Rd, Moomere St, and nearby streets
Dangerous for children, pedestrians, and bus stops, with reports of near misses, crashes, and property damage.
Noise, smoke, and tyre marks disturb residents, disrupt sleep, and frighten pets.
Worst at night, weekends, and after rain.
Residents frustrated at lack of enforcement; calling for speed humps, footpaths, signage, and stronger police action.

Do you have any suggestions or ideas for improving road safety in the Carlton area? 
Traffic Calming: Speed humps, traffic islands, chicanes, rumble strips, better signage, road markings, and lighting.
Road Design: Make Provence Drive a no-through road / cul-de-sac; add footpaths and bus hub for safer pedestrian and student access.
Enforcement: More visible police presence (especially nights/weekends), speed cameras, surveillance cameras, stricter penalties (esp. for P-platers), and tougher action on noisy or unroadworthy vehicles.
Education & Awareness: Community campaigns for young drivers, defensive driving training, and stronger licensing standards.
Other Ideas: Reduce speed limits on key roads, provide a safe controlled place for hooning, protect witness confidentiality so residents feel safe reporting.

I’ll keep you updated with the results and any steps we can take together.