General News
10 August, 2023
“Just fix the road”
BUSINESS owners on the Old Geelong Road are calling for works to fix a dangerous patch of road after multiple incidents.
BUSINESS owners on the Old Geelong Road are calling for works to fix a dangerous patch of road after multiple incidents.
The patch, located near the intersection of Old Geelong and Dept Roads, has often led to vehicles popping tires and veering off the road.
PM and JM Baulch Agricultural Contractors owner Peter Baulch said accidents had occurred four times in the month of July, with two in one week.
“They (Corangamite Shire Council) have known the problem on the road has been there for the last 12 months,” he said.
“I brought Rob McLaughclan from the shire down here and showed him the problem, and they’ve done exactly the same thing and thrown a bit of gravel on it 12 months ago.
“Every month, we’re getting the same problem because they’re spending money where they shouldn’t be and not where they need to be.
“I don’t want to be the person to pick up someone dead on the road a six o’clock in the morning.”
Mr Baulch reported one of his workers spent two and a half hours pulling someone out of mud on the side of the road after an incident, including helping to replace wheels.
He said that the council had recently counted the traffic but had not done anything about the hazard.
“This road would run at least 80 percent of the traffic,” he said.
“It’s not a one-off; it’s every week, we’re getting a vehicle run off the road, wheels damaged, tyres damaged.
“We have had enough; we’re going to start sending the shire a bill if they don’t fix that section of the road.
“I understand there’s not enough money for everybody to do everything, but that’s not that hard.
Corangamite Shire Council manager assets John Kelly said the shoulder area in question had been filled in for the interim.
“As part of the new capital program a rehabilitation of the section of Old Geelong Road just west of Depot Road is planned to be undertaken this coming summer,” he said.
“It is proposed that the road shoulder at the area in question be widened while the crew is on site doing the nearby road rehab.”
Mr Baulch said there was a simple solution.
“It (the road) needs to have a metre more bitumen brought right out to realign the road so there’s no dog leg there,” he said.
“They’ve known about it for over 12 months. Just fix the road.”