The ACT Government has admitted it did not consult with Braddon traders before deciding to close Lonsdale Street to traffic on the Friday and Saturday nights of Summernats, putting an end to the informal tradition of cars cruising the suburb and a festive atmosphere being created in the centre of the city during an otherwise quiet time of year.
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The government was labelled the fun police, with social media users declaring it was another example of the life being taken out of the city.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr also took some heat for allowing a street party in Lonsdale Street to celebrate the marriage equality vote last month while presiding over a government decision that shuts cars out of the centre of Braddon on the busiest nights of Summernats.
The government was left scrambling for answers on Wednesday when traders and car fans reacted angrily to a decision to close Lonsdale Street between Cooyong Street and Girrahween Street on Friday, January 5 and Saturday, January 6 from 6pm to 1am.
Elouera Street between Torrens and Mort streets will be closed for the same period.
An ACT Government spokesperson said the decision to close the streets was made on the advice of ACT Policing and "in the interests of community safety".
"ACT Policing have for the previous two years, been required to close the road during the event, due to safety concerns, so the decision to close the road prior to the event occurring is a proactive way to manage safety and inform businesses and the community," a statement read.
The government would "review the arrangements next year and seek to engage earlier with local businesses".
A spokesman for Mr Barr agreed consultation had not taken place. The first many traders knew of it was in a flyer informing local residents of the decision.
Only pedestrians and local traffic will be allowed in during the designated times.
Lonsdale Street traders fear a big drop in business on the nights because crowds will no longer congregate along the thoroughfare to enjoy the spectacle of the cruising street machines, a ritual that has continued for decades.
The Hamlet owner Nik Bulum said he had never seen a problem with the parade of cars. He understood many Braddon businesses had already decided to stay open during the quiet post-Christmas break for the spike in business provided by Summenats.
"It's been a Lonsdale Street tradition forever and we've never had a bad thing happen," he said.
"I personally don't have any interest in Summernats but I do have an interest in this street. During that time, it's like, 'Wow'. It's fun. It's alive.
"Why are they killing that vibe?
"I could understand it if every year people were smashing windows and running over people but all it is is a few cars going past and people stand there to cheer them on."
BentSpoke Brewing Co co-owner Richard Watkins was more circumspect.
"BentSpoke supports any moves the government makes to control Summernats crowds, particularly during the Friday and Saturday nights in Braddon," he said.
"However we do feel there could have been more consultation with Braddon businesses in this case."
Motor enthusiasts such as Joshua Summers, who started a Facebook page and petition to keep the streets open, now believe the cruise will simply migrate elsewhere, probably to Dickson, and be open to more safety problems.
Traffic marshals will be in place on the nights tin Braddon o allow for local traffic to access the area.
Mr Summers said he could not understand why the marshals could not simply monitor the cruising cars, which were generally slow-moving and bumper to bumpier.
He said car enthusiasts naturally migrated from Summernats at EPIC to Braddon on the Friday and Saturday nights.
"I think the simple answer to it all is a greater police presence earlier in the night. Even just a couple of police cars parked on the street," Mr Summers said.
"The police usually don't turn up until later in the night and it has an effect straight away."
Braddon is a hotspot for Summernats revellers with many staying in nearby accommodation close the the event venue at Exhibition Park in Canberra at Mitchell.
Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez said the decision to close the streets had nothing to do with the street machine festival.
"Police and Access Canberra advised of us of the decision to close the streets," Mr Lopez said.
"Our understanding is there were concerned about the large number of pedestrians in the area that on those nights and that they wanted to introduce some safety measures.
"It wasn't a decision that had anything to do with us but we have to go with the guidance of the police and Access Canberra."
Mr Lopez said it would be a "wait and see" situation if the absence of the cruising cars led to fewer pedestrians in any case.
He believed the cruising cars would migrate to other areas such as the Kingston foreshore or Manuka.
"We hope the Lonsdale Street traders still benefit from the influx of tourists during that time in any case. People are drawn to Braddon because it's close to a lot of the accommodation people use for Summernats."
Mr Lopez said the decision "had nothing to do" with the death of Queensland man Luke Newsome who died when he fell from the back of a ute during the traditional cruise at Summernats earlier this year within the grounds of EPIC.
"As I understand it, it is more about the control of pedestrians than the control of vehicles," he said.
