Earlier this year, City of Ballarat asked the Forest Street community to share their knowledge of existing conditions for people walking, riding a bike, riding mobility scooters or otherwise moving around Forest Street without a car, and the improvements they might like to see.

We are now in the early stages of designing changes that will make Forest Street a safer and more pleasant street for everyone who moves through it or lives on it. You can help with the design process by answering a few questions.

The knowledge and ideas we received from the community highlighted some major areas for improvement:

  • Safe crossing points
  • Car speed and behaviour
  • Roundabouts
  • Road and footpath condition
  • Safe cycling infrastructure

Key aspects of the concept plans are:

  • Safe crossings for all side streets
  • Additional Forest Street crossings
  • Shared pedestrian and cyclist paths along school frontages. These wide, shared user paths will allow easy, safe access to the schools, away from the busy parking and drop off zone
  • Outside of the school zones, an on-road, protected bike lane on each side of Forest Street will provide safe and pleasant cycling from Giot Drive to Wendouree Parade
  • Central median from Norman Street to Giot Drive. This will help to lower car speeds and control traffic movement during peak school hours. It also provides tree planting opportunities.
  • Safe raised pedestrian and cyclist crossings on all roundabout arms
  • Multiple tree planting opportunities from Norman Street to Giot Drive


Forest Street Preliminary Concept Designs - August 2024