By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
MORE than 200 Casey residents have called on the State Government to improve traffic noise pollution along the Monash Freeway.
A 282-signature petition demanding improved noise walls at the Hallam Bypass was presented to state Parliament last month by Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan.
Mr Donnellan said the government was ignoring the levels of noise invading residents’ homes in the south of Endeavour Hills, including in Preston Avenue.
“The Napthine Government said the decibel levels weren’t high enough to warrant increased funding for improvements, but residents continue to have difficulty sleeping, especially those who undertake shift work,” he said.
“The walls across the Eumemmerring Creek Bridge aren’t tall enough as noise escapes the freeway and travels up the hill to homes like it’s an amphitheatre.”
Mr Donnellan also said the government had underfunded road projects across Casey since 2010.
“Funding to roads in Casey was $45 million on average per year under the previous Labor state government.
“This has now collapsed to only $4 million per year under the Napthine Government,” Mr Donnellan said.
Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said the opposition failed to acknowledge that the 2011-12 Buget included $121.5 million to repair flood damaged roads.
“Since the floods, the state’s road maintenance budget was boosted by $45 million in October 2012 and then by a further $170 million over three years in May 2013,” he said.
Mr Mulder said the government and VicRoads regularly carried out road inspections to receive community feedback.
“VicRoads has used this information and taken account of traffic volumes when tendering out maintenance work,” he said.
“There will be maintenance works underway across the state this summer.
“Drivers need to obey the road work speed signs in place during this period.”
