By Dongyun Kwon
In the middle of the hot and dry season, the Yarra Valley community is worried about the safety of Healesville-Kinglake Road as the roadside slashing hasn’t been completed yet.
The traffic volume on the road is expected to increase as an alternative route due to the two landslip repair works scheduled on Melba Highway, Dixons Creek, over the next few weeks.
Healesville resident Geoff Boiggs said he found vegetation growing up tall on Healesville-Kinglake Road between Healesville to Melba Highway which has potential risks including a bushfire.
“The government hasn’t done the roadside slashing for three years in the northeast region and for 12 months in the southeast region,” he said.
“Healesville-Kinglake Road will become the alternative route to use for trucks and cars when Melba Highway closes for roadworks. Same as if there’s an accident in Dixons Creek and the roads close, they have to come up to use that road.
“When you got vegetation overhanging one of the lines, it’s dangerous. You can’t see around the corners and people go over the middle of the road and the car gets scratched.”
On Friday 7 February, Mr Boiggs contacted the Star Mail again to inform that roadside slashing work had commenced in the southeast region.
The Star Mail contacted the Department of Transport and Planning.
