By Bruce Wardley
SLOW down and stop ripping up our roads is the war cry of Wonthaggi and Phillip Island residents fuming over Bass Coast Council plans to rip up sealed roads.
One Wonthaggi couple reliant on a walker and walking stick say they have been forced to give up walking because of the state of the roads around their home.
Nearby Campbell Street is dangerous according to the couple.
Brown Street, the nearest alternative road for walking, was returned to gravel 10 to 15 years ago.
“Once you have a walker you can’t walk the back lanes,” said the elderly woman.
“Brown Street needs better drains, and the gravel replaced with bitumen.”
Married for 65 years and residents of Wonthaggi for 25 years the couple claim Bass Coast Shire has never done any traffic counts stating “a lot of traffic comes through here.”
The couple claim a council grader is lucky to come once a year and occasionally a load of gravel is dumped in Brown Street.
“They sent the water cart around once last summer,” said the resident. “The dust is awful it’s a health hazard.”
“I have a walking stick but find it difficult to go for a walk,” added the woman’s husband.
“It would be better to use side roads if they were sealed or properly maintained.”
Footpaths in the area are described as very patchy and surrounding roads “are all the same”.
The couple who are well into their 80s claim getting to medical appointments can be difficult with the nearest bus stop 500 metres away.
“We have three bus stops.”
The closest bus stop is Easton Street, but that street has no pedestrian pavements and “you have to cross Campbell Street.”
Brown Street is an alternative, but Brown Street is a gravel road with no pavement at all.
The third option is Hagelthorn Street. Hagelthorn Street has no footpaths and also has an unmade section of road.
The couple complain Bass Coast Council is not concerned enough about people, and people’s ability to enjoy the town they have moved to.
“We love this town. People are nice in Wonthaggi.
“We’re just trying to get council to make life a little bit more comfortable.
“With the aid of walkers, we should be able to use the bus to get to the library.”
Residents from Queen Street in Wonthaggi have joined residents in Rhyll and Cowes with petitions condemning Bass Coast Council’s plans to turn their sealed roads into gravel.
“We have seen first-hand what the council’s gravel and crushed rock roads look like,” said Queen Street resident Peter Carden. “A section of Scenic Drive in Cowes that runs off Red Rocks Road after turning in from Ventnor Road was rehabilitated a couple of years ago.”
“To say local residents were not happy would be an understatement.”
Dust in the house, health, accessibility for people pushing prams and walkers are all key issues according to Mr Carden.
“It’s a joke.”
Mr Carden claims Bass Coast Council talks about transparency and communication but as far as transparency is concerned they have missed the point.
“Council has provided no details as to when the work is likely to start nor any timelines as to when a petition should be submitted.
“If work is likely commence in May or June a petition would have to have been submitted by 5pm last Friday, April 4.”
Why the sudden rush?
“With a four-lot subdivision underway in Queen Street why on earth would council rip up a bitumen surface when their gravel alternative would turn into potholes and mud during winter with heavy vehicles and tradies vehicles coming and going?” said Mr Carden.
Council refers to the works as ‘rehabilitation’, restoring a damaged road pavement to its original standard or improving its condition, often involving replacing or reinforcing layers of the road base and surface.
“Clearly the people making these decisions have no idea,” said Mr Carden.
Mr Carden asked councillors if they would agree to have their own roads ripped up and converted to gravel.
“At the very least a meeting of affected ratepayers with council is needed,” he said.
Bass Coast Shire has an information page on dust suppression treatment at engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/dust-suppressant-seal-removal.
