Lynbrook Residents Association president Scott Watson, Cranbourne resident Judy Davis, Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon and Cranbourne North resident Brett Fowler are concerned about the state of the South Gippsland Highway. 76732Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Bridget Cook
VICROADS has come under fire for its lack of maintenance along South Gippsland Highway, with residents even offering to do the job themselves.
The City of Casey, along with local residents, have called on VicRoads to step up its maintenance work along the main stretch of road through Lynbrook, Lyndhurst and Cranbourne and Cranbourne North as they fear its become a fire hazard.
Another reason for the request is due to the community’s concerns about the amenity of the area.
VicRoads Metro South East acting regional director Graham Clarke said wet weather over recent months had contributed to rapid vegetation growth along many roads and VicRoads was working to rectify the situation.
Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon raised the issue at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
The council resolved to contact VicRoads requesting that regular grass cutting, tree pruning and litter removal be undertaken along the South Gippsland Highway between the Western Port Highway and Camms Road.
“This issue has been raised by me three times now asking VicRoads to put in place a comprehensive, regular mowing, pruning program along the South Gippsland Highway to mitigate fire safety concerns and to maintain the amenity along the gateway to Cranbourne, South Gippsland and Phillip Island,” Cr Stapledon said.
She said residents had concerns as to what people’s impressions were when travelling along the stretch of road – so much so they have offered to do the work themselves.
“Concerns have been so strong that community groups have offered to launch a maintenance program to maintain the reserve alongside their homes,” she said.
“Unfortunately, it was not recommended by council due to safety concerns.
“Whilst council maintain their boundaries on a regular basis, the rest remains neglected and is the most visible and prevalent part of the highway.
“Residents of Lynbrook, Cranbourne North and Cranbourne are proud of where they live and would like this reflected in the maintenance of their highway.”
Lynbrook Residents Association president Scott Watson said residents had a number of concerns at the state of the highway.
“Firstly, there’s purely the look of it,” he said.
“Lynbrook is on the way to one of the state’s biggest tourist destinations (Phillip Island).
“First impressions last and we want to give a good impression.”
Mr Watson said fire safety and the fear of a scrub blaze was residents’ biggest concern.
“You can say it won’t happen, but the fact is it did happen three years ago,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for the wind direction, it would have kept going.”
Mr Watson called on VicRoads to either completely clean the highway or maintain it more regularly.
Mr Clarke confirmed that the area of concern was VicRoads’s responsibility.
“Maintenance work, including mowing and litter collection, is undertaken eight times per year and edge trimming three times per year,” he said.
“Maintenance work was last undertaken in January 2012. Edging and spraying works are currently being carried out. A crew is also scheduled to collect tree debris over the coming weeks.
“VicRoads will continue to monitor the condition of the arterial roadsides on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne to ensure appropriate maintenance is being undertaken.”
