By Callum Ludwig
The State Government is working with the new Federal Government as it undertakes a review of projects in its investment program and Coldstream residents fear this could prevent a greatly desired community upgrade from going ahead.
In the 2019-2020 Federal Budget, the previous Federal Government committed $20 million for the upgrade of Maroondah Highway, Coldstream between Melba Highway and Ingram Road however, works are yet to begin.
Residents have been campaigning for the duplication of the Maroondah Highway at Killara Road in Coldstream for over four years, with support from Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence.
“For the last four years, on behalf of the Coldstream community, I’ve raised the dangerous Killara Road intersection on 15 separate occasions in State Parliament, requesting information from the State Government about when works would commence to fix this dangerous intersection and when the highway duplication would occur,” she said.
“This is a massive kick in the guts for Coldstream residents. In March 2022, the Roads Minister said ‘community engagement [would] commence in upcoming months, with pre-construction works to follow’, but now six months later we’re being told this vital road safety project is under review. What’s changed? Maroondah Highway and Killara Road are still dangerous.”
Coldstream CFA Captain Sean Bethel said the project is vital for the fire brigade, which is on Killara Road, and the upgrades and lights would provide easier access onto the highway or across the highway.
“Most of the time when we respond, lights and sirens are on, but tourists and locals that drive through here don’t always see or hear them,” Cpt Bethel ssaid.
“We’re having to take measures to try and get out onto the highway, and at times it is becoming borderline impossible. People also cross over at the bus stop and you’re sitting there waiting for ages for a gap to come through or running the gauntlet in trying to get across.”
Resident Kevin Ryan said a petition he previously started on the issue garnered nearly 2500 signatures from local residents and businesses.
“I wrote a letter to the local member at the time, before Bridget came in and the response came back saying the Roads Minister at the time said there is no requirement for a set of traffic lights because there’s not enough traffic. There are in excess of 17,000 cars, trucks, buses and bikes every day, including on the weekend,” Mr Ryan said.
“This is the main corridor to go north. If for example, you try to turn out of Killara Road at Easter, forget it, the traffic is bumper to bumper all the way to Exeter Road [in Croydon North]. It’s at a snail’s pace and no one is going to let you in.”
Coldstream resident Paulette Bisley has had a near miss at the intersection, unable to see past a parked truck on the left of Killara Road, a common spot truckers stop to head to Foodworks or the Coldstream roadhouse for a bite to eat, and ended up almost being hit by oncoming traffic.
“We have to protect people. We as taxpayers say it will cost a hell of a lot cheaper to spend $20 million than it would to be paying for the loss of lives,” Ms Bisley said.
“The government responds only to immediacy, which is probably a death and until then they don’t do anything.”
A State Government spokesperson said it’s busy rolling out the $780 million road maintenance blitz right across Victoria while the opposition points fingers in the wrong direction.
“The former Federal Government made this commitment without any planning and development of the project, nor any prior consultation with the Victorian Government,” they said.
Since the announcement, the State Government has accessed some of the funding for the Department of Transport (DoT) to undertake the development work to determine the scope, timing and cost of the proposed upgrade.
The Department of Transport is continuing its investigation into options for upgrades along the section of Maroondah Highway between Melba Highway and Ingram Road in Coldstream.
Upgrade options will address immediate treatments to ease congestion and improve safety along the route. In addition, it is considering potential options that will address traffic safety and accessibility concerns for all road users, including pedestrians that will align with the projected future growth in the area.
The Department of Transport will continue to work closely with the new Federal Government and Yarra Ranges Council to achieve outcomes that address concerns and the community’s needs.
