Crash cash

By Bridget Brady
IT HAS been a long time coming, but Hampton Park residents have finally welcomed a $35 million commitment in the State Budget to duplicate Hallam Road.
Passionate campaigners said they were over the moon on Tuesday when they heard the State Government would duplicate 2.5 kilometres of the busy thoroughfare between Pound and Ormond roads.
New signals will also be installed at three sites along Hallam Road, including the notorious intersection at Ormond Road, where five people lost their lives in two smashes last year. Pedestrian lights will be constructed at St Kevin’s Primary School and new signals at Somerville Road were also announced.
Hampton Park residents and activist for the Hallam Road duplication Erica Maliki said she was ecstatic to hear the news, but said it was a bittersweet victory.
“I’m over the moon, but on the other hand I’m sad too because it’s taken five people to die at this intersection for this thing to be done … my emotions are everywhere at the moment,” Ms Maliki said.
“You had so many different suburbs all grieving over these kids and the senseless loss of life. It’s not going to bring these kids back but at least they (government) have sat up and listened.”
Tony O’Hara, chairman of the Hampton Park roads committee, said the funding announcement was “numbing”.
“One minute we thought it wasn’t on the cards, then to find out that it’s come up and in the budget … we didn’t have any inkling of that. It’s rather stunning,” Mr O’Hara said.
The calls to duplicate Hallam Road arose after last year’s two fatal collisions, but Mr O’Hara said the roads committee had request its upgrade since about 1993.
Narre Warre South MP Judith Graley said the announcement was a great win for the community that had campaigned tirelessly.
“I’ve just been privileged to work with them and be their advocate,” Ms Graley said.
“The project will make Hampton Park and Narre Warren South a better and safer place for motorists and pedestrians.”
Ms Graley said she was also happy for the St Kevin’s community, who had expressed their concern about the danger students faced when they crossed Hallam Road.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith congratulated the many campaigners for their hard work.
“This has been a long time coming,” he said.