THE prospect of the Bass Coast Shire Council tearing up a relatively good bitumen road, in Reid Street, Rhyll, as early as next month, and leaving it as a dust bowl, likely for years before a solution could be found, was simply too much for the good people of Reid Street.
They got a petition up in the few short weeks after being advised of the shire’s intentions in a shock letter on March 7, 2025, and at the 11th hour last Wednesday, with the unanimous support of councillors, they stopped the shire’s unpopular roadworks in its tracks.
But the battle to save Reid Street’s bitumen seal until a workable solution can be found has not been won.
At last Wednesday’s council meeting, councillors voted to hold off on ripping up Reid Street while a report can be prepared by shire officers to be presented no later than the May 21 council meeting.
So, in theory, councillors could give the bulldozers the go-ahead in little more than a month’s time.
Speaking after Wednesday’s council meeting, resident of Reid Street Pam Doherty said affected property owners were generally pleased with the response from council, to hold off on ripping up the road surface, but remained concerned that if the road was returned to a gravel surface, it might become a health hazard for years before an acceptable solution was found.
“We want to hear what the alternatives are and to be given enough time to decide what we want to do,” said Mrs Doherty.
And there was plenty of support coming from Island ward councillors during the meeting including Tracey Bell, Tim O’Brien and Ron Bauer.
Cr Bell moved the motion to hold off on any action until a report was presented to council.
“I feel there needs to be more clarity on timeframes and I look forward to officers working closely with residents so they can understand the options for what they can do and to give them time to consider these options and to get themselves organised.”
Cr O’Brien went further calling for a moratorium on removing the dust suppressant seals, not just in Reid Street, but right around the shire until the relative costs of the options were presented.
Streets where the shire is planning to rip up bitumen seals include:
• Outlook Drive, Cowes
• Scenic Drive, Cowes
• Bayview Drive, Cowes
• Park Lane, Cowes
• Maxwell Street, Cowes
• Queen Street, Wonthaggi and
• Reid Street, Rhyll
“I think this is of such contention that we need to have a moratorium on this activity. It’s very difficult to explain to someone that the bitumen is being taken up outside their property in the name of progress and dust suppression. It makes no sense to a resident. And certainly makes little sense to us.”
Island councillor Ron Bauer asked if it was true that the ripping up of the seal was imminent.
Manager Major Projects at Bass Coast Shire Council Damian Pendergast answered saying the action was being taken in line with two approved council reports.
“Through you, Mayor. At the moment, we’re doing an assessment. So, the notice of works that went out was to inform residents that the intention is to rip it up, as per the road management plan and the dust suppressant Council report that was approved. At the moment, we are just doing some further works with the residents in those areas.”
But there is some doubt about whether the dust suppressant report was actually approved in open council.
At the March council meeting, details of informal meetings of council were tabled including a meeting on February 26, 2025, when matters discussed included “dust suppressant seal removal” but there’s no indication a report was presented to council for approval.
The Sentinel-Times has asked council to clarify the matter.
Another Reid Street resident, Shane Dougherty, the head petitioner put a question to council about why parts of McIlwraith Road and Jansson Road had received kerb and channel treatment at no expense and not Reid Street and how council could assist residents in providing a new primer seal.
The shire played a straight bat in response: “A special charge scheme would be required to facilitate an upgrade based on the current level of support indicated by property owners. Council will consider reprioritising street upgrades on the priority list of the Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy 2024 if there is strong support from property owners to financially contribute.”
The Reid Street petition reads as follows: “We the undersigned being the owners of properties addressed in the Council’s letter of March 7, 2025, oppose the planned rehabilitation of Reid Street Rhyll. We seek postponement of these works to enable residents time to work with Council in formulating a maintenance or replacement strategy for the existing (long-standing) primer seal asphalt surface, which meets the required residential estate amenity of both locals and visitors to the region.”
