Fight over fast lane

By Casey Neill
A PROPOSED Wellington Road overtaking lane will put motorists and horse riders at risk, angry householders say.
More than 30 objectors spoke up at a heated planning consultation meeting with VicRoads and Yarra Ranges Council representatives at Belgrave Library on 13 September.
The former Federal Government in 2007 allocated $8 million for passing lanes on Wellington Road.
VicRoads has selected a 750-metre stretch between Spring and Belgrave-Hallam roads for one lane.
The section provides access to more than 90 households and has a bridle track for horse riders.
The lane will include a sealed shoulder and central lane for turning into driveways and four side roads – Courtneys Road, The Strand, Kerrs Lane and Spring Road.
More than 360 trees and undergrowth would be removed.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said an application to construct the overtaking lane was likely to come before council in the next six to eight weeks.
The shire has received 29 objections to the proposal.
“Local residents have a lot of concerns about the safety of the proposal and the vegetation loss,” she said.
Mervyn Road resident Sally Rice said many residents criticised a lack of consultation on the issue, with few were notified of the meeting.
“It’s becoming very passionate for us as a safety issue,” she said.
“The overtaking lane is going to become a speeding lane.”
Ms Rice has lived off Wellington Road for almost 20 years. She said motorists were driving up the hill at 100km/h and overtaking on double lines.
“It gets pretty scary,” she said.
“With two lanes of traffic coming up there’s just no hope. VicRoads statistics say that it’s safer but we don’t see how it can be.”
Ms Rice said traffic noise levels would increase dramatically with the proposed vegetation removal, particularly in homes on Wellington Road.
“The road will be so close to their front fences,” she said. “It’s very sad to see them trying to put suburbia in our little piece of bush.”
Dandenong Ranges Horse and Pony Club president Jonathon Lloyd was concerned about rider and driver safety.
“Having a bridle track so close to an 80km/h road – no man in his right mind would think about doing that,” he said.
He said traffic so close to the track was likely to spook horses.
“If that happens, the horse will naturally jump into an open space,” he said.
Mr Lloyd fears horses will leap onto the road and collide with traffic.
“Nobody wins. It would be a very horrible thing to witness,” he said. “It’s about the safety of riders, horses and families driving along the road. Everyone is at risk and in danger of losing their lives.”
He said the bridle track was well used. “I can run into half a dozen other riders on a weekend ride,” he said.
Dandenong Ranges Horse and Pony Club committee member Fred Edwards said crossing the stretch was dangerous enough without widening the road.
He suggested special traffic lights for horse riders or an underpass could be a compromise.
VicRoads did not respond to calls from the News before print time.