By Rowan Forster
Furious ratepayers say there will be “blood on council’s hands” if a fatality takes place on Kenilworth Avenue while a bitter contractual dispute halts the road’s sealing.
The deadly rat-run was set to be upgraded by Cardinia Shire in March, but the project was brought to an indefinite standstill by a cash-related rift between the contractor and developer.
Paul Benbow, who was involved in a horrific smash on Kenilworth Avenue in 2016, has lambasted council’s lack of action.
Mr Benbow and his wife were driving along the notorious dirt road when their four-wheel-drive was hit head on by another driver.
“I thought my wife had died,” he told the Gazette.
“We had a car come down here too quickly, the road was really corrugated, and she’s ploughed into us and written off the car.”
Paramedics took two hours to remove the driver of the other vehicle.
For Mr Benbow, the smash highlighted the dangers of the pothole-plagued Kenilworth Avenue.
“It’s too dangerous, it’s too narrow and it’s only a matter of time before somebody is killed,” he said.
“It’s a ticking time bomb.
“Council said it would be done within the timeframe and it was all supposed to be done ages ago – yet we’re still waiting and getting no updates on the progress.”
Gembrook MP Brad Battin joined dozens of Beaconsfield residents on Friday to protest the ongoing inaction at the notorious thoroughfare.
He revealed his intentions to meet with Cardinia Shire CEO Garry McQuillan over the community’s concerns.
“The responsibility of the road, council is trying to say is directly the developer,” Mr Battin said.
“It’s not owned by the developer, it’s never going to be owned by the developer and if council have to do it and then sue the developer – I don’t really care.
“That’s not the residents’ problem.
“Council must intervene on this matter straight away and get the road sealed as promised to these residents.”
In a 2016 survey by Star News, Kenilworth Avenue was flagged as one of the region’s most dangerous roads.
Nigel Fitton, who is selling his property on Kenilworth Avenue, said the road has deteriorated so much that it now deters potential buyers.
“We’ve got our house for sale and the comments that have come back from the buyers are that it’s a beautiful property but they couldn’t drive their car up that road,” he said.
“It gets to point where friends and family don’t want to come and visit because they don’t want to damage their car.”
It is listed on Cardinia Shire’s priority list for maintenance – on a four-week grading cycle – but residents’ claim the road becomes unsafe several days after servicing.
“There are crashes all the time and we’re very worried somebody will be killed,” Debbie Meredith said.
“Council sent us a letter in March and that was the last we’ve heard from them.
“We feel like we’re being held for ransom.”
The road’s speed limit was lowered from 80km/h to 60km/h in recent weeks, but it has reportedly made little difference.
The developer in charge of Kenilworth Avenue’s redevelopment, Banriar Investments, has remained tight-lipped throughout the ordeal.
The company’s sales office has “temporarily closed” and the contact number has been disconnected, fuelling rumours it may be experiencing financial turmoil.
No insolvency notices to date have been published by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under Banriar Investments.
Cardinia Shire maintains it is “trying to facilitate a satisfactory outcome between the parties to enable works to resume as soon as possible.”
Temporary road maintenance is being undertaken at the developer’s expense.
