NEWS DESK
Call for action ‘not talk’ over road fears
Servo attendant bashed, robbed
Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au FEARS have been raised that another person will be killed before improvements are made to the two increasingly congested intersections linking Mt Martha to Nepean Highway. A pedestrian was killed at the intersection of Forest Drive and Nepean Highway in 2014, resulting in a 700-signature petition to VicRoads urging the authority to upgrade traffic conditions at the access points of Forest Drive and nearby Uralla Rd. But despite the Mornington Peninsula’s soaring population and increased traffic accessing Mt Martha from the highway, no works have started. Resident Mike Goethel said he had a “substantial folio” of correspondence with VicRoads going back four years. “We are sick of talking because nothing is being done and someone else could be killed,” he said. Mr Goethel attended a meeting between residents, VicRoads and the shire last year, during which VicRoads undertook to begin “suitable safety measures”. But he said the only action so far was to reduce the speed limits from 100kph to 80kph. He said the effect of the speed reduction was negligible”, with accidents still occurring regularly. A further consultation meeting in November was “disappointing”, with conceptual road arrangements presented but no timing or funding guaranteed. However, VicRoads regional director Aiden McGann said consultation was essential. He said almost 300 residents who
A DROMANA service station attendant was bashed by thieves who then helped themselves to a “significant quantity” of cigarettes, early Friday 2 December. The 35-year-old man was outside the closed 7-Eleven fuel outlet on Point Nepean Rd, Dromana, 2am, when two men and ambushed him. The man was knocked to the ground, receiving facial and dental injuries, and bound with cable ties. One offender stood guard over him while the other used the man’s keys to enter the store and steal the cigarettes. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the offenders were seen on CCTV wearing dark clothing and balaclavas. The attendant received help from a passing motorist and called police. The value of the haul was still being assessed Friday afternoon.
Budget ideas Mike Goethel and his wife Margaret fearf that another person will die before two Mt Martha intersections are improved. Picture: Gary Sissons
attended two community workshops at the Dromana Community Hall last month heard about a range of safety measures being considered. He said the aim of the community sessions was to begin a discussion about how people access and exit Mt Martha and the challenges they faced. “It is important for us to gather information with the benefit of local knowledge, which is going to help us form
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solutions to make it safer and improve traffic flow.” Mr McGann said the next step was to gather the information and “look at the sentiments” towards the approaches offered. “Alongside our engineering principles, the input from the community will help us look at what is feasible and what isn't in terms of improvements.” He said VicRoads would present the recommended solutions “in the first
half of next year” before submitting a business case for the government to consider. Options for the intersections include: Roundabout Traffic lights Staged right turn crossings Minor intersection improvements Right hand turn restrictions New access points into Mt Martha, for example, Bay Rd.
IDEAS from the public to be added to Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 2017/18 budget close 5pm, Thursday 8 December. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the budget was developed to ensure its programs, projects and initiatives reflected community needs. “The community submissions phase is one step in the budget preparation process, and the community is encouraged to contribute ideas towards the final budget that will ultimately deliver council’s range of community services.” Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au
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