PLANS to rip up road asphalt at the end of Queen Street, Wonthaggi and return it to gravel have made local residents hopping mad.
“We’re only 600 metres from the CBD,” said Queen Street resident Peter Carden.
With the Bass Coast Shire Offices at one end of Queen Street leading into McBride Avenue angry residents say the road is a major thoroughfare.
A letter sent to Queen Street residents this week advised the road surface in Queen Street between Merrin and Broome Crescent will be removed and returned to gravel.
A dust suppressant seal applied to Queen Street between 2005 and 2007 has failed creating large potholes at the corner of Queen Street and Merrin Crescent.
“Queen Street is not the only road to be ripped up in Wonthaggi,” said Mr Carden.
“Eleven roads are to be returned to gravel.”
According to a letter from Bass Coast Shire dust suppressant material applied in 2005 has deteriorated beyond intervention levels and will be removed and replaced with crushed rock.
Council has an interim dust only treatment option for property owners if their street is not forecast to be considered for a full street road and drainage upgrade project within the next five years.
Interim dust-only treatments, funded by the property owners themselves, include minimal pavement upgrade and asphalt seal, traffic calming treatments to slow vehicles down, and slow-down or dust warning signs.
Work on removing the asphalt in Queen Street is expected to start in May.
Mr Carden said traffic on Queen Street has increased since traffic counts were last done in 2023.
“Tradesmen use the street and it’s a shortcut to the CBD,” said Mr Carden.
Residents say water cascades down the street in winter during heavy rain.
The condition of the road has deteriorated substantially over the last 12 months.
“The rear laneway in Merrin Crescent is also used by residents and tradesmen, dragging gravel onto Queen Street,” said Mr Carden.
“Worst case, leave it as it is.”
Helen Carden says asphalt has got to be better than a gravel surface and dust.
Nearby resident Julie Dunn agrees “better than a lot of country roads.”
“Much better than being ripped up.”
“Roads that get ripped up become the worst possible street you could live in,” said Ms Dunn.
“Ideally re-seal it, like they did with Broome Crescent,” said Mr Carden.
The northern side of Broome Crescent now has concrete kerbs and bitumen all the way to the council offices.
Julie Dunn wants to know what the thinking was behind this decision, as residents highlight construction nears for four new townhouses on the corner of Queen Street and Merrin Crescent.
“We’re 10 minutes walking distance from the CBD,” said Mr Carden, who claims the southern side of Broome Crescent has been forgotten while hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent elsewhere.
“The new subdivision is 700 metres from the CBD and the address is Queen Street.”
Concrete crossovers and stormwater drains for the new development were installed only last week leading to what will become a gravel road.
Mr Carden said council workers admitted it was all going to be ripped up.
Council has 300 legacy roads in the Shire and Queen Street was expected to be attended to in 30 years.
Ms Dunn has questioned how Council has the money to rip up eleven roads.
