By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Long-suffering residents in a Narre Warren street are about to endure hoon peak season, but are still months away from a solution.
Casey Council officers told residents next to the skid-thick turnbowl in Prospect Hill Road that a report will be handed down in March.j
“It will be too late,” said a fed-up resident – who pointed out that hooning typically ramped up in the summer.
“Eventually, someone will be killed here.”
Residents were told progress was stalling as Casey inquired whether it or VicRoads is responsible for the area.
Michael Presta, a resident who organised a petition to close down the turnbowl, retorted: “If you don’t own it, why have you been maintaining it?”
A man – familiar with the “slow-moving wheels” of government – suggested speed humps as an interim solution to the regular drifting over several hundred metres down the street.
“Will I see this happen in my lifetime? I am in my eighties!”
The area has become a reported haunt for drifting, skids, drug deals, vandalism, smashed glass, dumped tyres and burnt-out cars.
Sometimes, cars have careered through backyard fences.
Residents tell of how they lie in beds at night hoping that a screeching car doesn’t crash into their homes.
Casey officers were reluctant to close off the road – and access to the vast parkland.
Residents argued that the turnbowl’s car park was rarely used by park visitors.
“The only people who use it are hoons and drug addicts.”
There was even sightings of a motorised esky.
A council officer observed during the meeting: “When people want to be idiots, they’re pretty determined.”
Officers advised residents to report all incidents to Crime Stoppers and graffiti tags to Casey Council for removal within 24 hours.
They spoke of cutting back vegetation to improve vision through the park and installing a bin to improve amenity.
“That will give them something else to smash to pieces,” a resident quipped.
Councillor Rosalie Crestani said Casey was under growing pressure to address anti-social issues across the municipality.
“I wish there were more community-minded people.
“I’d be seeking people to be more considerate of their own behaviour, to leave the good people at Prospect Hill Drive alone.”
A passing-by resident, whose adjoining fence is tagged with layers of graffiti, gave unexpected dissent.
“I wish I had nothing else better to worry about.
“It’s only once every two weeks. I don’t know what the hoo-ha is.”
