By Brendan Rees
All Bill Barry would like this summer is to enjoy a barbecue in his own backyard.
But he and other residents say they’ve been left “fighting a dead end” to get any privacy since the “monstrosity” Thompsons Road bridge opened right on their doorstep in June following the level crossing removal.
“We’re not totally against the bridge but we can see everything…every time I walk in the yard people stand there looking at you,” he said.
Mr Barry added it’s been nothing but a “game of fighting an argument” with authorities about whether a fence will be installed around his property.
“VicRoads has copped out on everything on this so far; at the start they gave us notices and everything.
“They don’t tell you anything…I’m sick of hitting my head against a brick wall,” Mr Barry said.
He says there’s been a lot of “hand-passing” and “fobbing off” between VicRoads and City of Casey when he’s tried to seek answers.
“Seriously I don’t know why we’ve got councillors anymore.
“VicRoads won’t talk to me about it because it’s not got anything to do with them – it’s their bloody job.”
According to Mr Barry, he was told by VicRoads his current fence would be raised by a metre-and-a-half “but I don’t know, they haven’t put it in writing, and they haven’t showed us plans.”
Adding to his headache was the increase in loud traffic noise, and the fact that his driveway had also began to shift due to the building works of the bridge which started last year. “It never moved before until the vibrations started when they were putting the poles in.”
He says a VicRoads representative had since assessed his home saying “It’s just normal driveway movement.”
This is despite VicRoads taking photos inside his home and around the perimeter of his property prior to works starting, Mr Barry said.
“I’m saying ‘how come it’s normal driveway movement and never moved before over 15, 20 years, whatever it is?'”
“We’re sick of the crap that goes on,” he says. “You don’t get anywhere.”
In a statement, Major Road Projects Authority (MRPA) said: “We will reach out to the resident as we continue talking with the local community and explore options to improve privacy to nearby properties.
“Our project team have been in continuous contact with residents since the beginning of works and are aware the new bridge opening has had some impacts.”
MRPA acting program director Brendan Pauwels said 10.7 kilometres of duplication work was being delivered to improve traffic flow, increase capacity and improve travels times through Cranbourne and across the south-eastern suburbs.
“We’re now focused on completing works on the new southern road bridge by the middle of next year which will further unlock this notorious bottleneck for drivers and keep traffic moving over the rail line,” he said.
“We’ll continue working with the local community to improve amenity and safety.”
