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Wednesday, July 19, 2023 - Page 29
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A AL C LO
THE ALPINE
BRIGHT - POREPUNKAH - MT BEAUTY - TAWONGA - TAWONGA SOUTH Wednesday, July 19, 2023
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DUAL PRESIDENTS FOR ROTARY ON THE TOOLS
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WINTER is no obstacle for Mount Beauty Men’s Shed regulars (from left) Mal Darwent, Noel McDougall, John Driver, Henry Ziemnicki, Peter Donnan and Les Bevan. Story page 10 PHOTO: Brodie Everist
STUDENT’S WILDLIFE ADVOCACY
Pothole palaver RESIDENTS of the Upper Kiewa Valley are up in arms over the condition of local roads, with authorities citing persistent wet weather for their condition and emphasising current maintenance works. Mount Beauty and District Chamber of Commerce president Gerardo Altman said the highway between Albury and Mount Beauty is “peppered” with potholes, some of which require drivers to drive into the opposite lane to avoid them. He said at some parts of the road he has to slow down to 40km/h on a 100km/h road. “We have some of the
the State Government Mount B M Beautyy residents id alarmed l d by state off roads d said had cut the roads mainte-
BY BRODIE EVERIST beverist@ nemedia.com.au
worst roads that I’ve ever driven on,” he said. He said while tourists were still making the trip to Mount Beauty, he was concerned that a major incident caused by dangerous roads would put people off visiting. “It’s ludicrous, especially at night-time,” he said. “Not only are you dodging animals, you’re dodging potholes too.” Mount Beauty local Jim
Crebbin said some of the potholes on the road are “dreadful,” with motorists damaging car tyres or rims. “If you’ve got an oncoming car at nighttime, you can’t see it, you can’t dodge it,” he said. He said some of the pothole repairs break apart or holes will appear beside them, but also said one maintenance crew is doing a good job of fixing potholes on the Bogong High Plains Road. The Department of Transport and Planning is responsible for a number of major roads in the Alpine Shire, including the Great Alpine
Road, the Kiewa Valley Highway, the Tawonga Gap Road, Happy Valley Road, and Dederang Road. Alpine Shire Council’s manager of engineering and assets, Sarah Buckley, said persistent wet weather has had a significant impact on shire roads over the past two years, but council has delivered around $500,000 in road repair works following the 2022 floods with federal funding. “Our team continues to work hard to stay on top of road maintenance and repairs, prioritising work according to risk,” she said.
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LET US HELP YOU BECOME AN EXCELLENT DRIVER Ŏ -m -Ѵ ş |ol-ঞ1 (;_b1Ѵ;v Ŏ ƏŊƐƑƏ_uv ;-um;uv ub bm] ;vb]m Ŏ &m7;u mv|u 1ঞom $u-bmbm] Ő ;uv;-v Ѵb1;m1; _oѴ7;uvő Ŏ Ѵ7;u 7ub ;uv vhbѴѴv u; b; -m7 u Ѵ;v r7-|; Ŏ ";u b1bm] ub]_| ş u|Ѵ;=ou7 bv|ub1|v Hugh Clasby 1Ѵ-v0 _ ]_Š]l-bѴĺ1ol
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Steve Bowmaker, Hume regional director for the Department of Transport and Planning, said they are continuing maintenance works across the road network, including in the Alpine Shire. “Like much of regional Victoria, roads across the state’s north-east have been severely impacted by flooding and extreme rainfall.” “Safety is our number one priority, which is why our crews are prioritising the repair of hazards based on their potential risk to the community.” Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy,
nance budget by 45 per cent since 2020, with councils and regional drivers feeling the impacts. “I encourage locals to stay vigilant on the roads, make sure to drive to the conditions of the road, as not doing so can cost more than just money,” Mr McCurdy said. “I continue my push for more funding and for many of the potholes to be fixed, however, I would also encourage locals to write to the Treasurer and roads minister and remind them of the importance of good quality roads in the regions.”
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