No deaths just a ‘fluke’
So close: the Dollar Road is simply too narrow, residents say, as proven by close encounters.
DOLLAR residents have called on South Gippsland Shire Council to fix Dollar Road – for good.
Council has allocated $285,000 to revamp the road in the 2012-13 draft budget, but residents say a private contractor can fix the road at a cheaper price.
Cars were reportedly sliding on the road at the weekend and one vehicle slipped into an embankment.
Graeme Dyke of the Dollar Residents Improvement Association addressed council at last Wednesday’s public presentation session. He said the road was too narrow, windy and riddled with potholes.
“It is only a fluke that someone hasn’t been killed yet,” he said.
Mr Dyke presented a quote from Leongatha civil contractors Goldsmith, indicating the company could widen 1.6km of Dollar Road by up to three metres for $225,000, plus design costs.
Mayor Cr Warren Raabe said council would ring Goldsmith to discuss the quote.
Mr Dyke showed a video proving the road was too narrow, with trucks and cars nearly colliding while passing.
“We the ratepayers have witnessed the gradual and recently, the rapid deterioration of Dollar Road due to the lack of funds set aside for the maintenance of Dollar Road,” Mr Dyke said.
“Most attempts by a number of private residents in addressing the question of Dollar Road maintenance and upgrade before council have fallen on deaf ears. But now it is time to stand firm and demand action.”
He said residents were promised at a council meeting at Dumbalk earlier this year that $786,000 had been set aside for the road over four years.
“Dollar residents have paid a total of $449,941 in rates over the past nine years. The condition of Dollar Road is still a disgrace. Where is the equity for the money paid in rates? The residents do not benefit from any local services,” Mr Dyke said.
He was concerned council was planning to fix part of the road he believed was in a better state compared to the road further towards Dollar.
Cr Raabe said the draft budget should have referred to addressing the unsealed section and would be corrected.
Mr Dyke asked if council believed it provided appropriate infrastructure to the Dollar community.
“Dollar Road is unsafe and in time will only degrade to the point of being unusable. It is now visibly and physically worse since the autumn rains. We can expect far greater damage to the road over the coming winter months,” he said.
Cr Jeanette Harding was alarmed: “This is appalling and we should be ashamed of ourselves.”
John Wilson, also of Dollar, raised his concerns about the state of Foster-Mirboo Road.
He said people were sliding off the wet surface recently and council had not acted, despite being alerted.
Landslips were up to two-years-old, with the worst on a sharp blind turn used by a school bus.
“Pity those on board the school bus if a large vehicle was to come in the opposite direction. This is what we all fear, as a serious accident would devastate the people in the area,” Mr Wilson said.
“It has been reported that grants totalling in excess of $4.5 million have been allocated to the repair of landslips in the South Gippsland Shire. I would like to point out that budgetary constraints could hardly be blamed for the inaction in repairing these landslips, therefore South Gippsland should explain what has happened to this grant money.”
Cr Raabe said council crews had experienced a short construction period recently due to wet weather, but promised work in the next two to three months.
Short URL: /?p=3498
Posted by 
