Camber danger concern

BOORT Tourism and Development wants to enlist support from Loddon Shire to fix a Godfrey Street safety problem building for two decades.

The group has started a community petition as it looks for solutions to the street’s accentuated camber from Department of Transport adding layers of bitumen on the surface.

Barry Kennedy said the last resealing 10 years ago had raised the road another 100mm, creating a severe slope to north side gutters.

“You cannot park legally and open or close the passenger side doors,” he said.

“We have a problem and we want it fixed,” he said.

Mr Kennedy and Barry Barnes have been among the first to sign the petition.

“There’s a huge drop on this side of the street. My mother once fell trying to get out and injured her ankle,” Mr Barnes said.

They are proposing that the north-side channel of Godfrey Street be raised 200mm and historic bluestone pavers be used for a new kerb 100mm higher.

“That way we can keep the aesthetics of the street,” Mr Kennedy said.

“The existing bluestone kerb and channel is too low and needs to be reconstructed.

“This will provide safer parking and easier access to and from vehicles.

Reusing the bluestone is important to the aesthetics of the street and the business area,” Mr Ken- nedy said. Mr Kennedy and Mr Barnes said there had been multiple instances of people being injured or falling when trying to alight from passenger seats.

“You can see the slope quite clearly when looking across the street,” Mr Kennedy said. “And while this is something that could be discussed when looking at the next community plan, for the safety of people we would like to start talking about solutions now.”