Sounding off: Andrew Katos points out the site of the proposed barriers to residents Boris Schanjko, Guy Verrycki, Jack Goossen, Des O’Keeffe and Chris Wright.
Kim Waters
A $3 MILLION Liberal commitment for noise barriers along Geelong’s ring road will mean an end to sleepless nights for frustrated Wandana Heights’ residents, according to candidate Andrew Katos.
Mr Katos spoke with residents at Wandana Heights this week as he announced the funding commitment for the barriers to absorb “constant noise” from passing trucks and cars.
“I have spoken to many residents in the Wandana Heights and Highton areas who have been frustrated by the lack of action from the Brumby Government on installing these noise barriers,” Mr Katos said.
“The noise barriers will protect residents from traffic noise and it is disappointing that the Brumby Government has abandoned residents in Sunderland Road and surrounding areas.”
Mr Katos said a coalition government would construct the noise barriers along a 900-metre section of the bypass near Sunderland Road.
Wandana Heights’ resident Chris Wright was “really pleased” with the funding commitment.
However, he urged both Liberal and Labor candidates to consider similar barriers along other “heavily populated” stretches of the bypass.
“This is a great start but I would call on both parties to make noise barriers a standard in all sections of the road close to residential areas,” Mr Wright said.
“Trucks have to use their air brakes for safety but they’re really noisy and we hear them at 1am in the morning going off.
“It will be nice and quite and then a truck comes roaring past, which has been the case for the past four or five years since they started construction of the road.”
Mr Wright said “horrible” air brake sounds echoed throughout the area every night.
“It’s good to see the Liberals doing something about this and taking into account the liveability factor for residents,” he said.
“We’ve been on the phone to both candidates since this problem started almost five years ago so it’s great to have a result.”
The Independent first reported on residents’ anger over the bypass noise in August last year.
State Government later trialled surveillance cameras to crack down on truckies using air-braking on the bypass. The Government was unable to confirm the cameras would return.
