Seal drains call – John Cockle and his Legerwood Road residents show Casey councillor Shar Bal

By Kelly Yates
NARRE Warren North residents say they are sick of their gravel road getting washed away with heavy rain as a result of open drains along the street.
The Legerwood Road residents are now putting pressure on Casey Council to fix the open drainage problems.
Resident John Cockle organised a petition with his neighbours in support of the push, which was presented to the council at last week’s meeting.
“The drains get filled with twigs, rocks and branches,” he said.
“I have to clean out the drains near my house every three to four weeks. It’s a nuisance.”
Mr Cockle says the build up in the drains is also a potential fire hazard.
Helen McIlwaine, who has lived on Legerwood Road for nearly four years, said she had trouble getting in and out of her driveway because of the deep crevices formed when it rained.
Ms McIlwaine is also concerned about the amount of speeding drivers on the road.
“I have three children and there’s no way I’ll let them play out the front,” she said.
Mr Cockle said he and several other residents had helped drivers who had lost control on the unsealed road, pull their cars out of the deep ditches.
He praised Casey Council and its efforts in patching up the road over the years.
“The council has been good, but it seems to be a ridiculous, never ending problem,” he said.
Mr Cockle said he hoped the council would put aside some money from its capital works budget to help with drainage control.
Many residents said they would also like to see the road get sealed.
Casey councillor Shar Balmes has called for a public meeting to be held with all property owners to discuss options to improve the condition of the road and its drainage system.
She said the drainage along Legerwood Road was the council’s responsibility.
City of Casey engineering and asset management manager David Richardson said council officers were currently investigating the issues raised and the history of Legerwood Road.
He said the issues would be discussed at the public meeting with the available options to improving the drains and/or road.
“At this stage the investigation is not complete and the public meeting date has not been set,” Mr Richardson said.