By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A hoon hotspot in Narre Warren will be closed off with bollards under a six-month trial by Casey Council.
The news was celebrated by dozens of residents at Prospect Hill Road, who had lobbied for the shutdown of the eastern cul-de-sac since October.
The turnbowl had been a haunt for drifting, skids, drug deals, vandalism, smashed glass, dumped tyres and burnt-out cars, residents had claimed.
As recently as 6 April, an errant vehicle had ploughed onto a nature strip and splintered a resident’s fence. It was not the first time.
Over several years, cars and dirt bikes had carved tracks into the adjoining park’s lawns. The asphalt turnbowl is thickly laced with skidmarks.
Resident Michael Presta said that residents were “absolutely rapt” in the trial.
“The residents who live close up will be able to sleep at night. They won’t have to worry about when cars will go through their front windows.
“I’m glad that the council ended up working with us and they listened to our concerns.”
At a 17 April meeting, councillors resolved to temporarily block the cul-de-sac with bollards and rails at 69 Prospect Hill Road.
It will cost about $3000.
Two costlier and more permanent options of turning the road’s end into a hammer-head were also investigated by the council.
The temporary option was preferred to ascertain if a road closure would “fully eliminate” residents’ concerns, a council report stated.
In the lead-up, council officers and councillor Rosalie Crestani met with concerned residents.
The council had also questioned whether VicRoads was responsible for the dead-end section of the road, which connects to a Monash Freeway reserve with soundwalls and a footbridge.
Casey was now satisfied it was the responsible authority, Cr Crestani said.
When the bollards go up, residents plan to celebrate the reclamation with a barbecue in the cul-de-sac.
