Intersection a major public risk
Ripplebrook resident David Young could do nothing to stop the tragic fatal collision that unfolded before him at Tynong North last Monday.
Mr Young and his daughter Olivia were travelling behind a truck that collided with a vehicle as it left Gumbuya World.
He travels the road every weekday for work and drives with great caution on summer afternoons when he estimates 2000 to 3000 cars leave the theme park within a short time frame.
But, Mr Young said, the reality of funding commitments and government processes mean an overpass at the site could be three years away.
“What has to happen immediately is some major traffic control measures for both sides of the freeway.
“Thousands of people are leaving the site at the same time every day. It’s a major public risk.
“Gumbuya World managers have to take responsibility and warn people of the risks when leaving the site. They have to take leadership in this, it was far too hazardous and more people will get hurt,” he said. Mr Young said line markings and signs to alert drivers would be a starting point.
Digital speed reduction signs are already in place that reduce the speed zone to 80km/ hour during peak exit times but Mr Young questioned if it was enough.
“It was a tragic, tragic accident. The truck wasn’t speeding and couldn’t avoid the accident. Nobody should have to go through that. We all have to get together and work at reducing the risk.
“It’s a major public health risk and the people going to Gumbuya World have to be aware of the risk entering and leaving the facility,” he said.
Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said he had a guarantee from the Department of Transport last year that options for improved traffic management at the intersection would be presented to him this month.
He said he’d had many discussions with regional director Vince Panaro and last week asked him to consider another proposal.
Mr Blackwood has called for the highway intersection immediately outside Gumbuya World to be closed so that all traffic will be diverted along the service road to the Garfield North intersection which is “wider and safer.”
“It’s not perfect but it is a safer intersection. There is more vision east and west.
“We need a quick fix and a short-term solution. The lower speed hasn’t worked and the time for people to react just isn’t there with the vision that’s available,” he said.
Mr Blackwood said being a national highway, the Federal Government also needed to take responsibility and jointly fund any works as it did with the Sand Rd overpass.
He expects an overpass would be in the vicinity of $60 million.
DoT data for the intersection shows five crashes between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2020 including one fatal, two serious injuries and two other injury crashes.
In recent years, the department has worked with Gumbuya World owners to instal additional signage and temporary speed reductions to improve safety.
The speed zone is lowered from 100km/h to 80km/h between 3pm and 7pm during Gumbuya World’s peak exit times.
Two signs are located on the Princes Hwy at each approach to the intersection alerting motorists to the entry of Gumbuya World and turning vehicles, in addition to digital speed limit signs.
A department spokesperson said it was working with Victoria Police to investigate the circumstances of last week’s crash.
“The cause of the crash is yet to be determined - as part of our investigations we will review safety at the site,” the spokesperson said.
Cardinia Highway Patrol police are preparing a report for the coroner.