By Brendan Rees
The owner of a family-run nursery in Hampton Park says he’s fed up with ongoing roadworks that are killing his trade.
Anthony Diaco, who manages the Diaco’s family’s Discount Nursery and Garden Rock Supplies with his father Vince, said changes to the Hallam Road upgrade project made it look like his business was closed.
“We’re absolutely isolated; we’ve got no passing trade,” he said.
“It looks like we’re closed because look at all the temporary fencing.
“If it keeps on going the way it’s going I’m going to have to cut back wages; I’m going to have to probably retrench a few people because I can’t afford to keep these wages,” Mr Diaco added.
The State Government’s Hallam Road Upgrade will add an extra lane in each direction between Ormond Road and South Gippsland Highway – which will also involve the compulsory acquisition of land at the front of the nursery.
Mr Diaco has been fighting a battle with the Major Road Projects Authority (MRPA) as a right-hand turn into his business has been marked for removal as part of the roadworks.
As part of the upgrade, new traffic lights will be installed and the South Gippsland Highway, Hallam Road and Evans Road intersection. Once all works are complete the speed limit on Hallam Road will be set at 80km.
Hallam Road has now been partially closed in the past three weeks creating a further setback to the business.
Mr Diaco says an electronic road sign on Hallam Road was confusing customers which reads: ‘Road closed U-turn here’ and ‘Access to Diaco’s only.’
“They are just doing U- turns and going back and when they get back home they ring.”
“It’s all barricaded. You can come off South Gippsland Highway but it’s very deceiving,” he added.
Mr Diaco said he was at wits end with MRPA in trying to get more signage at the front of his business to say they were still open.
“I want to get another sign out there saying we’re open all the time and they say they can’t get any permits from the council,” he said.
“I’m just stressed to the max. I haven’t been sleeping. It’s a bloody headache-and-a-half.
“I’m going to get a balloon put up the top here and we’re going to put business as usual so at least they can see something,” he added.
“We get in excess of 10-15 customers a day ringing up are you still open.”
In January, Mr Diaco said he feared closing his doors if the MRPA didn’t play fair.
“It’s just heartbreaking. You put your blood, sweat and tears into something, and something like this happens.”
MRPA has been contacted for comment.
