Posted 29/6/10 

From Hansard

22 June 2010 COUNCIL

Page 60

Black Forest Drive, Woodend: roadworks

Mrs PETROVICH (Northern Victoria) -- My matter on the adjournment is for the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas. It concerns the commencement in the middle of June of roadworks on Black Forest Drive, Woodend. Local residents have been appalled at the lack of consultation by VicRoads and the state government. Fortunately the Rotary Club of Woodend stepped into the breach and organised an information session on 17 June at the Woodend neighbourhood centre. Rotary member Howard Burvill said the club initiated the meeting to encourage communication with the community. I congratulate Rotary on this initiative.

The road is in my home town of Woodend and I have been inundated with concerns. VicRoads acting regional director David Runnalls attended the meeting and said that traffic on the road had reduced significantly since the Calder Freeway opened.

VicRoads has come to this conclusion without any studies, other than one that went back to 2001.  On the night he also said that this decision was a fait accompli.

The $1.35 million worth of works is touted to improve the safety for motorists. That is quite amazing, considering that overtaking would be the major cause of fatal accidents. However, this road has bends which make it not conducive to being a two-lane road.  Black Forest Drive is a major road out of the towns of Woodend and parts of Macedon and Mount Macedon.  It provides access to the Calder Freeway for many residents.  We have been told that a bicycle track is to be installed.  I do not see why people cannot ride bikes on it as it is.

We have been continually warned by a massive advertising campaign over the summer to leave the area on days of high fire danger and to leave early. We know that sometimes that does not happen.

Because of the proximity and speed of the fires on Black Saturday, some who choose to stay in areas such as Kinglake were caught short.  This road holds the key to the evacuation of the townships of Woodend, Macedon and Mount Macedon, which have all been classified as high fire risk areas and were involved in the Ash Wednesday fires.  They are close to the Wombat State Forest and other heavily treed areas which pose an increasing threat to the population, most of whom would need Black Forest Drive to link them with the freeway.  This area has a planning overlay showing a wildfire overlay on it.  It was clear in the aftermath of Black Saturday that clear safe escape routes are crucial in times of evacuation and emergency.  I do not want to see cars piled up on the side of the road, as we did then.