Do you live near or travel along Ewing Street, Brunswick

I have heard growing concerns about safety on this local street. Brunswick Road is managed by the state, while Ewing Street falls under council responsibility. That’s why Merri-bek Councillor Liz Irvin and I want to hear your ideas and priorities for improving Ewing Street and the intersection at Brunswick Road. 

In May 2025, Liz Irvin and I held a community meeting to discuss safety on this busy local street. You can read our summary of the meeting here. 

At the meeting, many residents raised the idea of installing a red light camera at the Brunswick Road crossing. I have written to the Department of Justice about this and encourage residents to request one here. 

I welcome the upcoming 30km/hour trial in Ewing and surrounding streets, and hope that it will help make the road less dangerous. 

Liz and I are coordinating with Merri-bek Council officers in our advocacy to the state government to improve the intersection. 

In the meantime, sign up to receive updates and get involved in the campaign to improve safety on Ewing Street. 

Timeline (scroll down for latest updates):

2013: Brunswick Residents Network made a submission to Merri-bek Council to propose a 30km/hour speed limit on Ewing Street. 

2015: Residents petitioned Merri-bek Council for pedestrian and bike riding improvements in Ewing Street, a refuge in Glenlyon Road, and safety upgrades at the Brunswick Road intersection (managed by VicRoads, not Council). Council staff responded by running two series of consultations to discuss and draw up plans. 

2016: Merri-bek Council approved various works including a Glenlyon Road refuge, bike lanes and roundabout modifications. However, a further proposal to trial blocking the south-bound lane, originally supported in consultations, was rejected as it narrowly lost in a poll of residents. A ‘concept design’ emerged to fix the Brunswick Road crossing by bringing it closer to the intersection, removing the ‘cage’ and halting east-bound cars west of the intersection. Council pledged to continue to consult Vicroads to get this work done. 

2018: New issues arose and further modifications were sought by residents and bike riders. Council refused to consider zebra crossings at the roundabouts where cars have priority. 

2021: Merri-bek Council built zebra crossings.

May 2025: Liz Irvin and I held a community meeting to discuss safety on Ewing Street. Read our summary and the Brunswick Voice article here. 

July 2025: I wrote to the Minister for Police to request that a red light camera be installed at the Brunswick Road crossing, and wrote to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. 

September 2025: I wrote to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to raise key problems with the Ewing Street and Brunswick Road intersection and suggest possible solutions. 

September 2025: I heard back from the Minister for Police, who stated that this location has “been previously submitted to the Road Safety Camera Site Selection Committee and was deemed not suitable for installation of a road safety camera in January 2025”.

I also heard back from the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, who advised that “the pedestrian fencing at this location serves as a physical barrier preventing pedestrians from stepping onto the roadway, removing it is not recommended”.

September-October 2025: The Department of Transport and Planning released its draft maps for the Brunswick Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre, which propose building heights of up to 12 storeys on a plot at the Brunswick Road end of Ewing Street.

November 2025: In Parliament, I asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety how the Government plans to improve safety and infrastructure at this intersection to support the Activity Centre’s proposed increase in population. I’m due to get a response from the Minister in early December 2025.