By Callum Ludwig
A group of Upper Yarra residents are calling on the Yarra Ranges Council to seal one of the region’s important linking roads.
A petition for the council to consider a Special Charges Scheme to seal Beenak Road, Yellingbo between Smiths Road and Hansen Creek Road had 51 valid signatures when it was submitted at the Tuesday 23 April council meeting.
O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said it is an issue that gets highlighted on a regular basis.
“It’s a well-used road over a fair length of distance of course and it will have some challenges going into the future in regards to the officers appraisal and how that will come back in regards to the expense, but yes, there’s definitely a need for that particular road to be sealed,” he said.
“I think the next step, which is how we always deal with petitions is to accept them and go to the appropriate officers who then come back to us in Councol with a recommendation so I’m happy to move that.”
Beenak Road in Yellingbo connects Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road through Yellingbo to Gembrook-Launching Place Road in Hoddles Creek, including providing access to the Kurth Kiln Regional Park and campsites, the Lyrebird Park camp and conference centre and Solitude Estate Wines’ Tibooburra Vineyard.
If the petition’s request was to be adopted by Yarra Ranges Council, the sealing would service the road up to just prior to the Monkhouse Track and Kurth Kiln Regional Park and start from where Smiths Road connects to Beenak Road from Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.
Near the Kurth Kiln Regional Park, Beenak Road also branches off to run adjacent to Gembrook-Launching Place Road (linking back up to it near Penrose Road) and provides access to the end of the Kurth Kiln Scout Loop, the end of the Gilwell Track and a few children’s and outdoor education camps.
Beenak Road also continues across Gembrook-Launching Place Road and hosts the Beenak Cemetery before terminating at popular camping spot Basan’s Corner.
Beenak Road was not considered or planned to be sealed through the now-defunded Roads for Community Program.
