Pearcedale residents Jim Walsh, Bill Fabian, Jen Joycey, Doug Joycey, June Rhodes, Mick Svedic, John Veselauskas, Zora Paul, John Smollen and Maureen Smollen this week met with Flinders MP Greg Hunt to discuss the poor state of Robinsons Road.By Alison Noonan
RESIDENTS choking on dust and dirt on Robinsons Road in Pearcedale are desperate for Casey Council to seal their road – but they don’t want to pay.
Maureen Smollen said residents were opposed to the council’s special charge scheme, under which property owners would contribute to the cost of sealing the dirt road.
Mrs Smollen said the busy collector road was in “shocking” condition due to an increase in heavy traffic and had become a nightmare to travel on.
“I suffer from chronic lung disease and my husband has terrible asthma and the amount of dust that comes off this road does nothing to help our health,” she said.
“It is so bad it looks like someone has dumped buckets of dust all over it.
“Council said it would lay extra dust suppressant but when will that happen?”
Mrs Smollen said the corrugated road surface generated an unbearable amount of noise and was a danger to motorists.
“The noise from the chook trucks at night and the buses going over the pot holes is enough to drive you mad,” she said.
“The condition of the road is terrible. Council grades the road but two days later it’s the same.
“The repair bills for our cars is unbelievable.
“My car is only five years old and I have to get rid of it already because it just shakes and rattles.
“The road is just atrocious and we shouldn’t have to put up with it.”
Mrs Smollen said it was the council’s responsibility to seal the road and was appalled that residents should have to pay.
“When we purchased our properties we were told that this was a government road and we would never have to pay for it to be sealed,” she said. “We believe that council should still honour the previous agreement.”
Flinders MP Greg Hunt this week met with about a dozen concerned locals and confirmed the road was in need of urgent improvements.
“There is a real problem with dust, corrugation and safety. It is a dangerous road that definitely needs to be sealed,” he said.
“I would encourage council and VicRoads to work together and I am happy to work for a federal contribution.”
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler defended the council’s special charge scheme, claiming it was a universal rule imposed on all roads throughout the City of Casey.
“This is the procedure for all roads in Casey where residents will derive a benefit from having it made,” he said.
“I would say that council would contribute 75 per cent of the total cost.
“I will be suggesting that council seal both sections of the road, and residents between Pearcedale Road and Smiths Lane seem happy to pay.”
Cr Butler acknowledged the road was in poor condition and said the council would be applying an extra coat of dust suppressant this week.
“The road is falling apart. The heavy vehicle traffic is breaking the surface up and the recent weather hasn’t helped,” he said. “It’s on council’s priority list to be sealed but residents will have to pay.”
