A YEAR is too long to wait for one of Devon Meadows busiest roads to be sealed, according to a local resident.
Marcel Nassar, who lives in Browns Road, says Casey Council needs to seal the remainder of the increasingly hectic thoroughfare between Craig Road and the South Gippsland Highway as a matter of urgency
Mr Nassar said he did not want to wait another 1218 months as council indicated, claiming it was only a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt or even killed on the gravel road.
“The road is in a shocking state. It is a major thoroughfare that carries school traffic, buses, trucks and football ground users,” Mr Nassar said.
“There are potholes everywhere and it is worse in wet weather. It really needs to be looked at urgently.” Mr Nassar said the poor condition of the road, combined with a speed limit of 80km/h, posed a safety threat to motorists and residents.
“I am wary of even letting my kids ride their bikes down the driveway or on the nature strip because all someone has to do is hit a pothole and lose control,” he said.
“It is also unsafe for small cars. I am in a fourwheel drive and I can feel the effect it has on the car.
“We have only been here a month and our suspension needs to be looked at already.”
Mr Nassar said he didn’t mind contributing toward the cost of sealing the road, saying he could not put a price on his children’s lives.
“I’m doing everything I can to see that this road is sealed and I’m happy to pay.
“How much money do you put on a child’s life?” he asked.
“Does someone need to lose a limb or their life before council pulls its finger out and seals the road?
“And where should we send our vehicle repair bills in the meantime?
“We need to sit down and figure out how we can make this feasible for both council and residents,” Mr Nassar said.
Casey manager engineering and environmental services David Richardson said the council would be introducing a property owner contribution scheme for the upgrade of Browns Road within the next 12 months.
“The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.5 million. Council will contribute 75 per cent of that cost and if residents are willing to contribute the remaining 25 per cent we will proceed.
“Council has acknowledged that this road is considered a secondary arterial road which is why it will pay the majority of the costs.
“The section of road between Smiths and Craig roads was constructed in the same way,” he said.
Mr Richardson said the next step towards sealing the road would be to consult with residents regarding the property owner contribution scheme.
He said the council would base its final decision on whether residents were willing to pay, stating the whole process could take up to a year.
Alison Noonan
