Brakes, barriers targets of petition

Jessica Benton
MORE residents have joined the fight to sound-proof homes from Geelong’s bypass.
Residents from Fyansford to Waurn Ponds have signed a petition urging Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas and Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield to fight for legislation banning truck drivers from using noisy engine braking on the bypass.
The residents, whose properties neighbour the bypass, want Vicroads and Victoria Police to stop and penalise engine brake “abusers”.
They say the braking is a noise blight on their properties day and night.
Augustine Drive resident Lynne Verschuren accused the Government and Vicroads of installing ineffective sound barriers between her Highton home and the road.
“We have sound barriers but the walls still shake and bottles and wall hangings rattle when trucks come past,” she said.
“It’s bad all day but it’s all through the night, too.”
Ms Verschuren said the worst times were between 10pm and 6am.
Nearby, Parkwood Drive residents Kevin and Cheryl Brownlee moved from London four years ago to set up home but complained of sleepless nights since stage three of the bypass opened.
“We’ve come all the way from England for the so-called Aussie dream and this is what we’ve got,” Cheryl said.
“Engine braking has got to be legislated against and someone has to be brave enough to say no brakes through suburbia.”
James Cook Drive’s Hans Van Dorssen said the sound barriers were in the wrong places.
“What amazes me is you go up the road where there are no properties and there are sound barriers yet there are no sound barriers in built-up areas,” he said.
Last week the Independent reported that noise from the bypass was driving neighbouring residents up the wall.
Residents whose properties were near or backing on to the road had approached Kildare ward councillor Stretch Kontelj and state MP Ian Trezise with complaints of “unbearable” noise.
State Member for Western Victoria David Koch promised to table the petition in parliament.
He said the Government had “jibbed” residents on its bypass promises.
“The Premier announced the ring road was delivered early and under budget but there’s no way that it would have come in under budget if it had been delivered correctly,” Mr Koch said.
“My office has received many concerns from residents about stage three of the ring road and I expect that other members have, too, but when I met with Mr Pallas he told me this issue was news to him.”
Vicroads bypass project director Tony Hedley said modifying or upgrading the bypass’s “noise walls” was unnecessary.
“We’ve had an independent consultant carry out further noise testing since the project opened to traffic. To date, all results have been well below predicted levels and as such, there is no proposal to modify existing noise walls or construct new walls,” Mr Hedley said.
“Vicroads will continue to consult extensively with the local community in relation to the Geelong ring road, including on noise issues.”
“Where noise attenuation is provided, the aim is to keep noise levels to 63 decibels or less for 90 per cent of the time between 6am and midnight,” Mr Hedley said.
“Noise walls are located between the Midland Highway and Haines Reserve in Hamlyn Heights and adjacent to the future Riverlee development in Herne Hill/Fyansford. The ring road is in a substantial cut between these sections and, as such, noise levels are at 63 decibels or less.”