White line fever

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
They said the road has become a main thoroughfare since new developments had brought more than 150 cars onto the road.
The residents believe the road’s width is too narrow for the traffic and a council solution to paint a white line down the middle was a farce.
They said deep ruts and holes made the gutters dangerous to drive into while giving oncoming traffic a safe berth.
But Yarra Ranges Council said improvements to Hoddle Street would require resident funding.
Resident Noella Weston said she listened to the screech and thud when cars hit the gutter outside her house.
“We’ve been trying for 10 years to get the road fixed or in good condition, even before the developments started, but the increase in traffic has made it a bigger problem,” she said.
“If a motorbike or push bike got caught in the ruts they could have tragic circumstances.
“If the council benefits from all those extra rates they should be maintaining the road here.”
Resident Paul Traynor was adamant the road would soon have its first fatality.
“In the four years I have lived off this road I have passed two cars in the gutter, seen three crashes on the corner of Yarra Street and Hoddle and know of two people in our street who have crashed there,” he said.
He said residents had believed the white line, painted two years ago, was a temporary solution.
“So now when a truck delivering anything meets you on the blind corner, you know how far it is on your side of the road and you can better judge how far you have to get off onto the pot-holed gravel without hitting the trees,” Mr Traynor said.
Another Hoddle Street resident Barry Thomas agreed the road was falling apart.
“The gutters are deep and the road is just falling into the gutter,” he said.
“Each time they top soil it, it washes away in the rain.
“If Hoddle Street had been dealt with as one job it would be fine but these piecemeal offerings are not helping.”
Resident Leigh Hardy said it was a dangerous bit of road that was barely wide enough for a truck, let alone two passing cars.
“And that line down the middle doesn’t make it any safer,” he said.
YRC environment and engineering director Mark Varmalis said Hoddle Street, north of Herbert Street, was considered safe for two-way traffic.
But he said south of Herbert Street, if the kerb and channel were considered, then residents would have to pay for improvements under a special charge scheme.
“Council has not received a request for such a scheme, however has responded to a number of inquiries, which suggests that landowners should get together and submit a petition requesting improvements and indicating a preparedness to contribute,” he said.
The council would survey landowners with costs and a timeframe to see if the improvements were supported.
In the meantime the council said it would continue to maintain the road in its current form, in accordance with its road management plan.