Pilot Project

Yarra City Council is partnering with Princes Hill Primary School and the local community to create a welcoming space in our local streets through an eight-month pilot project.

The pilot project will make the location safer through better connections for everyone and spaces for local communities, including families travelling to and from school. Children at Princes Hill Primary School have told us they want to walk, scoot or bike ride to school especially with their friends. 

To make improvements in the area, changes include:

• A short section of Park Street east of Wilson Street will close to car traffic, while people walking, riding, wheeling and scooting will still be able to travel through
• Wilson Street will become one-way for cars, northbound between Pigdon Street and Park Street
• Solly Avenue will become one-way for cars, westbound between Wilson Street and Holtom Street West
• 28 on-street car parking spaces will be replaced with a shared space for walking and cycling outside Princes Hill Primary School, on the east side of Wilson Street between Park Street and Pigdon Street
• Changes to on-street car parking restrictions on Park Street and Wilson Street. We are putting this feedback into action

What happens next

The pilot infrastructure is scheduled to be installed by Monday 5 October 2026. Further details on construction are included in the map below.

The project will begin on 5 October 2026 and will be monitored and evaluated. Council will collect and report on data over eight months including traffic counts, surveys and parking use, alongside community feedback.

This will inform Council’s decision about the future of the project in 2027. The changes including the infrastructure will remain in place while the pilot is being evaluated and Council makes a decision.

Providing feedback during pilot project

You can start providing feedback on Monday 5 October 2026. Details regarding the feedback opportunity will be available then.

In partnership with Princes Hill Primary school, we are exploring ways we can make it safer and easier for students, parents and staff to walk, cycle and scoot to and from Princes Hill Primary School.

The changes we are considering, would also enhance connections to the Linear Parklands and nearby areas, with upgrades such as wider footpaths, more greenery and safer bike lanes.

The cross‑section illustrates the layout we are considering along Wilson Street. It shows:

• The school frontage opening onto a wide share space for walking and bike riding - allowing more people to enjoy getting around safely.
• One‑way traffic along the street, with parking retained on both sides of the single traffic lane.
• Kerbside parking alternating between parallel and angled configurations along the length of the street.

What are the proposed changes to traffic?

The design closes Park Street at Wilson Street to cars on the east side of the intersection. Wilson Street and Solly Avenue would also be converted to one-way for cars to create a counter-clockwise loop.

Traffic modelling and analysis has shown very minor possible impacts. More details are included in the Traffic Impact Assessment.

All existing vehicle access to properties would be maintained.

Why we're doing it

As part of our New Deal for School’s program, we are opening more streets to walking and bike riding without car traffic so that people can enjoy getting around safely.

Traffic congestion around schools creates safety risks, poor air quality, and stressful situations for children, families, and local communities.

This creates barriers and can discourage children to travel in the way they want to and be active, healthy and social getting to and from school.

Students at Princes Hill Primary School have told us they want more choice in how they get to school — whether that’s walking, scooting or bike riding, especially with their friends.

The proposed upgrades will encourage cycling, walking and scooting. This will make the area more appealing and remove the barriers children and families face, when travelling to and from school, in the way that works best for them.

You had the opportunity to tell us what you thought about the proposals and provide your feedback before 9am on Monday 6 April 2026 by filling in the form below.