Community
24 July, 2024
More road frustrations
HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition to have a notorious stretch of road outside of Simpson fixed before a life is claimed.
Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan sponsored the petition which will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday, July 30.
He met with Corangamite Shire mayor Kate Makin and community members Debra Smith and David Costin at the site earlier this month after repeated calls for action have fallen on deaf ears.
Speaking with the Cobden Timboon Coast Times at the time, Mrs Smith, a coordinator at Simpson and District Community Centre, said volunteers had initially approached Mr Riordan about the petition due to their concerns.
“The community is only small and our voice falls on deaf ears whenever we want something done, so we always have to push a bit harder” she said.
“It’s been an issue for a long time - there has been serious incidents happening here for 15-20 years.
“In the last two years it has been constant – we’ve had a cement truck flip and end up in the bushes on the other side of the road, we’ve had cars and utes.
“It’s only a matter of time, and what’s going to be next? A school bus with all of our kids?
“It’s not good enough.”
Mr Costin said it was a “slap in the face” that despite consistent incidents and calls for government action, nothing is done.
He said speed limits had fallen from 100km, then to 80km last year, and now in some areas the speed limited has been reduced to 40km, which showed the government knew how dangerous the conditions were.
“Like everyone, we keep an eye on the news and you see every now and again that cars are going off the road – but locally you hear more about cars almost going off but don’t make a report,” Mr Costin said.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re trying to make a bit of noise to the minister and VicRoads, but we never get a response.
“It’s good to try and make a bit more noise, but it’s disappointing they’ve dropped the speed limit to 40 kilometres instead of actually fixing it when it doesn’t look like a big fix.
“The weather has been ideal for road maintenance since November. They can’t blame the weather for their inaction.”
Last week a community member or members took it upon themselves to place signs on the newly reduced road signs saying “speed restrictions won’t fix the road”.
The signage called out VicRoads, Regional Roads Victoria, the Victorian State Government and Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne for ignoring “this slippery section of road”.
To sign the petition visit https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/lavers-hill--cobden-rd/.