By Mikayla van Loon
Roads in the Yarra Ranges can be unpredictable – going from asphalt to gravel to dirt in a matter of metres.
Under Yarra Ranges Council’s $150 million federally funded Roads for the Community Initiative project, unsealed roads will be getting a makeover.
Roads across the Dandenong Ranges, urban area and Yarra Valley have been prioritised under the scheme to be sealed over a 10 year period.
In September 2019, the council gave first priority to the construction of unsealed roads bordering schools, preschools and key community facilities.
Priority was also given to roads that would complete the sealed road network and to unsealed roads within the urban growth boundary with high property density.
Yarra Ranges Council director of environment and infrastructure, Mark Varmalis said the community has been an integral part of sealing these roads.
“During the survey phase of the project, the openness from landowners has been wonderful and is providing a positive feeling that the council is making a significant difference,” he said.
“Many landowners have commented about their excitement at the prospect of their road being sealed in the near future.”
Feedback from residents has been positive, with many residents pleased to not have to deal with dust and dirt for much longer.
“Desperately want this project to proceed. The dust is unbearable. The road is too busy not to be sealed,” one resident said.
So far, phase one of the road sealing project has been completed in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 years, seeing a total of 6.3km being resurfaced.
While a number of those roads, including Joy Avenue Mount Evelyn, McGregor Avenue Healesville, Chalet Road Olinda and Allenby Road Lilydale, have been fully funded by the Federal government some road sealing projects will require resident contributions.
A total of 21.6km of road is expected to be resurfaced in the next stage of the project, which should be completed by 2023.
Over 1000 properties in Seville, Warburton, Lilydale, Millgrove, Healesville, Badger Creek and Belgrave Heights will benefit from these sealed roads.
Roads like Hyne Street Lilydale and Menzies Road Menzies Creek have been issued an intention to levy a special charge, meaning residents will contribute to the funding of sealing these roads for them to be finished by 2023.
As at August this year, a further 26km of road had been identified for construction in Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn, Woori Yallock, Upwey, Wandin North and Monbulk.
To date, construction on 49km of road has begun, with the council expecting to seal a total of 187km by the end of 2028.
“We know that sealing unsealed roads is important for the residents that live on them, to reduce dust and improve all weather access,” Mr Varmalis said.
“This project is estimated to help more than 7,700 families and residents in Yarra Ranges to get their roads sealed in the next 10 years, which will be a great result for the municipality and people who visit the region.”
For long-time residents, this couldn’t come soon enough.
“We are very happy with this project. We have lived here for 40 plus years and dust has been a problem.”
