Ringwood Activity Centre Car Park

Prior to 2019, Council sought funding for commuter carparks in Maroondah, including Ringwood and Croydon, as part of a Federal Government congestion-busting grant. A high-level assessment was conducted and it was conceptually determined that a roundabout could offer a high level of service if appropriate. However, detailed traffic modelling was needed to validate the final access arrangement.

The car park site (1 Bedford Road) had a long-established access point to Station Street and Bedford Road which provided certainty for the future development of the land. Unresolved car park design challenges related to the building layout, heritage controls and major services, meant it was not appropriate to conduct the intersection modelling at the time (prior to the funding application being submitted).

Useful modelling required accurate traffic data, which was not possible during the COVID pandemic. Due to traffic disruptions related to the Level Crossing Removal Program (LXRP) works undertaken nearby at the Bedford Road rail crossing, modelling was also not able to be undertaken at that time.

Following the completion of LXRP works in late 2024 Council was able to undertake more useful data collection work and initiate extensive traffic modelling. In-house and externally contracted specialist traffic modelling engineers were engaged for this work. 

Modelling showed that a roundabout at Greenwood Avenue would cause the road network in the entire Station Street precinct to fail, resulting in significant queuing and gridlock. The proximity of the roundabout to Bedford Road meant that queues from the traffic lights extended through the roundabout. This, in turn, blocked access for people turning right out of Greenwood Avenue.

As a result, if motorists turning right stored in the roundabout, they would block cars driving up Station Street, causing a queue back along Station Street and around the corner into Wantirna Road. With a roundabout, Greenwood Avenue would become a more attractive route, exacerbating the demand and potential for people to store in the roundabout. The roundabout being blocked also created a queue back in the other direction, then causing the Warrandyte Road / Bedford Road / Maroondah Highway intersection to fail.

Another factor taken into account was pedestrian safety concerns at this location, particularly during afternoon school peaks, where past accidents have involved motorists hitting pedestrians between Greenwood Avenue and the Station Street pedestrian operated signals. Roundabouts are not the optimal safety solution for pedestrians, and a heavily congested roundabout in this area would potentially further compromise pedestrian safety. To address this Council is also upgrading the existing footpath along Station Street to the west to connect to an upgraded Pedestrian Operated Signal crossing at the entrance to Ringwood Station.

After determining that a roundabout was not feasible, Council explored alternative solutions, including traffic lights and uncontrolled arrangements, to address the traffic issues identified in the modelling. Various access options were evaluated to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow in the area.

The provision of a right turn into the car park was deemed crucial to maintain its catchment access. Without access to a right hand turn motorists would be required to take a detour, impacting accessibility and network congestion in the morning peaks. Introducing the right turn can be implemented safely and would facilitate lane formalisation on the approach to the Warrandyte Road intersection, improving clarity for motorists passing through the area or accessing the carpark.

Considering that the car park serves a train station in a Major Activity Centre, it aligns with the desired land use outcomes for the long-standing Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre structure plan. Prioritising this land use is reasonable given traffic and access to the road network can be redirected elsewhere in the road network without significant impact.

Even under the pre-car park arrangements, the right turn movements for Greenwood Avenue were sub-standard from a traffic safety perspective. Modelling showed that retaining the right hand turn would lead to potential queues of up to 200m and seven-minute delays during peak times within Greenwood Avenue. These delays could result in risky behaviours by drivers and similar queuing issues as with a roundabout option.

Greenwood Avenue services a large local catchment, extending all the way to Canterbury Road. During peak times, the redistribution of traffic equates to one additional vehicle turning somewhere else within the nearby network every minute during peak times. This redistribution can be easily accommodated within the local road network and there are a number of alternative routes that motorists can take. This is further demonstrated by the ongoing intersection traffic improvement works that began in August 2025, which entail significant closures at both Greenwood Avenue and Station Street, yet have not resulted in any significant traffic network issues since the works began.

• The multi-deck car park at the corner of Bedford Road and Warrandyte Road is a new permanent asset for the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre, with access from Station Street.
• The decision not to build a roundabout was based on extensive traffic modelling that showed significant network failures and safety concerns for all road users.
• The removal of the right hand turn from Greenwood Avenue aims to enhance overall intersection safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
• The redistribution of the Greenwood Avenue right hand turn can be managed effectively within the local road network.