By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
CARDINIA residents have expressed safety concerns at the state of two unpaved roads in the north-west of the shire, raising the question: Are these Cardinia’s most dangerous roads?
Hillside Road in Cockatoo has long been the subject of a back-and-forth between council and residents, who say the road is kept in an unacceptable condition by the shire.
In December, Cardinia Shire’s acting manager of infrastructure services Andrew Barr confirmed that an accident had recently occurred on the troublesome road.
“Council is seeking further details from Victoria Police’s Cardinia Highway Patrol in relation to a recent accident on Hillside Road, Cockatoo,” he said.
“Based on discussions with Victoria Police, council may investigate what contributed to the accident.”
He added that a long-lasting Polycom polymer product was used to grade the road on 10 December – after the accident had occurred.
The incident follows ongoing pleas from residents for something to be done about the state of the road.
In February 2015, Cockatoo resident Gillian Rayner told the Gazette that she had witnessed several potentially dangerous episodes because of the inadequate surface on the road.
“Some of the dangers I have witnessed have been where vehicles have been unable to get up the road, unable to progress, or to turn round, due to the corrugated and inadequate road surface,” she said.
Similar issues plague Kenilworth Avenue in Beaconsfield, where resident Karen Williams says the poor surface and 80-kilometre speed limit have made the road dangerous for residents and damaging for cars.
“Council has been grading it about every four weeks but it just gets corrugated so fast. At this time of year there are big potholes” she said in December.
“The speed limit needs to be taken down to 60kmh on an unpaved road. At least once year a year we have an accident and before we moved in there was a fatality.”
Council’s operations coordinator Mark Howard confirmed on 7 January that council was aware of Kenilworth’s poor condition throughout December.
“Prior to Christmas, signs were placed at each end of the road to warn road users of the hazard until the grading took place.”
The works were carried on 4 January.
Although she believes the road should be surfaced to cater for the increasing population, Ms Williams felt that council’s special rates and charges scheme should not apply in this case.
“It’s not a private road,” she said of the thoroughfare, which connects Beaconsfield Avenue to Old Princes Highway and Brunt Road.
“With all the new homes going in, the developers should be expected to contribute. They should be paying.”
Mr Barr said that the special rates and charges scheme would apply to Hillside Road, however council had not received enough support to go ahead with the plan.
“Previously, there has not been adequate support for such a program, however council currently has this road listed within council’s five year special charge and capital works program for consideration.”
Cardinia Highway Patrol was contacted on 7 January and would not provide any further details on the Hillside Road incident.
Do you know of other dangerous roads within the Cardinia Shire? Let us know at www.facebook.com/PakenhamBerwickGazette.
