Pothole anger bursts open

By Kath Gannaway
A MASSIVE pothole has left a Healesville woman out of pocket and angry, but ultimately feeling very lucky she was in a 4WD.
Lianne Slinger was driving along Coldstream West Road on Thursday night when she hit a pothole she says would have swallowed a smaller car.
“It was dark and I didn’t have any warning. If I’d been in a smaller car I could easily have ended up crashing into that tree,” she said revisiting the scene the next day.
The damage bill, including a new tyre and shock absorbers, is $1500, and whichever way she goes, she will be seriously out of pocket.
Ms Slinger claims the council has failed to maintain the road and should pay.
She said a friend who regularly drove along this road had told her the series of potholes had been repaired a number of times.
A stack of five different hub-caps on the side of the road indicate Ms Slinger is not the only victim.
Ms Slinger contacted Yarra Ranges Council and admitted they were quick to repair the damaged road. However, she said she got no joy when it came to paying for the damage.
David Freeman, council’s risk management executive officer, confirmed to the Mail that Ms Slinger would have to pay the first $1280 regardless of the liability.
Mr Freeman said claims for damage caused by the condition of a road came under a State Government Act.
“I can appreciate the frustration that causes, and it is not the first time people have queried this part of the Act, but it is not something council has decided, it’s legislated,” he said.
Ms Slinger said she now has no option but to claim through her own insurer and pay the insurance excess.
“The real issue here is the council not maintaining the roads and the average working-class person having to pay for that,” she said.
“What about people who can’t afford insurance, much less a bill of a thousand dollars or more?” she said.
“The shire should at least be responsible for maintaining our roads. That’s what we pay our rates for.”
Yarra Ranges Council was unable to respond to the road maintenance accusations before deadline.