By BRIDGET SCOTT
MEMBERS of Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce hope a dangerous roundabout in Berwick will be addressed in the state election.
Harry Hutchinson and Catherine Hall, fellow chamber member and owner of Berwick restaurant Eightyone, hope the roundabout on the corner of High Street and Wheeler Street in Berwick will be improved.
Ms Hall said there was at least one altercation at the roundabout each week.
She said people don’t realise it’s a roundabout until it’s too late, with some drivers failing to give way.
“People coming up the hill from Berwick to Beaconsfield don’t see the signage,” she said.
“The problem is, people don’t get that it’s a roundabout.”
The restaurant owner, whose business is on the corner of the roundabout, said there have been countless near misses and she would like to see rumble strips attached to the road as a warning for drivers to slow down.
“I am not even asking for traffic lights,” she said.
“They would be ideal but at least some strips to let people know they need to slow down.”
Ms Hall said the City of Casey had told her that the road comes under the jurisdiction of VicRoads.
“VicRoads have said because no fatalities are listed there and accidents are not reported they won’t do anything,” she said.
Ms Hall, who has been working with Gembrook MP Brad Battin on the issue, said she now takes photos of every accident and sends them to the police.
She said this issue has been going on for about five years and she has brought both council members out, as well as the state transport minister.
Mr Battin said he has worked hard to lower the risks at the roundabout.
“I have been working to address this issue and have previously had VicRoads come and assess the roundabout and meet with Catherine Charles, who has been a long-time advocate for improvements to this roundabout,” he said.
Mr Hutchinson said while this is a major issue the chamber would like to see addressed, the group has another wish in the lead up to the state election.
“Bring back the lights to the median strip,” he said.
“We will make this a key issue.”
Mr Hutchinson said the lights were promised about seven years ago and a cheque was nearly signed to seal the agreement before a state election was called.
“We want to get Berwick on the tourist map,” he said.
“Berwick would’ve been a real destination at night.”
He said he is confident about the reintroduction of this lighting come the state election, and hoped the roundabout would be considered as well.
Mr Hutchinson said La Trobe MP Jason Wood will be a guest speaker at the group’s AGM next month, and he hoped that Mr Wood would “enlighten” the group on any progress on the lights and the roundabout.
