Foot down on road

By Dion Teasdale
EAST Warburton resident Ron Howard has issued an invitation to the Shire of Yarra Ranges to inspect the condition of Big Pats Creek Road on foot.
Mr Howard last week joined other Big Pats Creek Road residents in accusing the shire of neglecting ongoing safety concerns about the width of the road and the poor condition of the road’s shoulders.
Residents told the Mail they had been campaigning for upgrade works for many years and were expecting works to widen the narrow road to be completed earlier this year.
They said they were disappointed when the upgrade only included spray sealing works, leaving the road with ragged bitumen edges and large potholes.
At the time the shire expressed surprise at the outrage, saying they had notified residents of the spray sealing and that widening of the road had not been part of the equation.
The shire’s manager of community relations urged residents to submit a formal request for works to widen the road in the future.
Mr Howard said he would put a request in writing but said he would like the shire to inspect the road with residents in the meantime.
“I don’t accept the shire’s response. I was told last year that the road would be widened and that the shoulders would be fixed,” Mr Howard said.
“The road is dangerous. I’d like the shire to meet us up here and walk the length of the road with us to see first hand how bad it is.”
Mr Howard said the shire’s proposal to grade the edge of the road in the next four to six weeks would be a waste of money.
“As soon as we get the heavy rains in spring, any benefit from the grading works will be lost,” he said.
“What we need is permanent solution, not a Band-Aid measure.”
Shire of Yarra Ranges manager of community relations James Martin said shire officers would be happy to meet with Big Pats Creek Road residents to discuss their concerns.
“The best thing they can do is make contact with their ward councillor, Monika Keane, and see if they can arrange a time for her, or other appropriate shire staff to meet with them,” he said.