By Jed Lanyon
Launching Place residents are hoping that the federal government’s $150 million in funding to seal several dirt roads in the Yarra Ranges over 10 years will mean that Wellman, Ruthven and Carroll Street will be upgraded.
These streets surround Launching Place Primary School inviting higher levels of traffic during school hours from cars and pedestrians.
A group made up of nearby residents said the roads are used as a thoroughfare for vehicles heading to and from the primary school and a pre-school as well as for trucks travelling to Launch Fresh.
They said that the dirt roads are a popular destination for hoons to fly around the corners that form a blind spot.
One resident, Kalli Blunt hopes these roads in Launching Place are high on council’s priority list to be sealed.
“My concern is for the locals, the families that live here,” she said.
“I just want something done for the safety of the kids. I watch mums with their prams walking up on that nearby bank. I don’t know how they do it without tipping.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Varmalis said, “Council is currently compiling a list of priority roads for sealing.
“Highest on council’s priority list will be the unsealed sections of roads that share a boundary with schools, preschools and community facilities, followed by urban unsealed roads in township areas.”
Mr Varmalis said that funding will be used to seal roads in urbanised areas using special charge schemes, where construction is co-funded by landowners and the federal government.
“Owners on priority roads will be provided with a lower special charge scheme rate than has been required from owners in the past.
“We’re preparing a ten year list for this $150 million road construction program, but we also know there will be some unavoidable delays for petitions for sealing roads while we put this together.
“Landowner petitions for road sealing will be considered and evaluated against the criteria, including the petition to seal Grieve, Wellman, Ruthven and Carroll Streets in Launching Place,” Mr Varmalis said.
Residents fear that the steep guttering on the roadside and the lack of infrastructure for pedestrians in Launching Place will lead to a student being hit on their way to school.
Ms Blunt has taken matters into her own hands by placing signs up in the area advising drivers to slow down.
“We need to have speed bumps and proper infrastructure to handle the water that comes down and blocks the drains,”
Another resident, who is not associated with the group, said sealing the road would only give an incentive for hoons to go faster.
Ms Blunt said that a recent meeting held at the nearby primary school was productive in addressing the safety concerns of the residents.
Mr Varmalis said that council expects to publish more information about the first stage of prioritised roads later this year and that council will directly contact landowners on these roads once the list has been completed.
Launching Place Primary School has been contacted for comment.
