Powerless to stop intersection
A Lillico couple say they feel powerless after discovering a four-lane intersection is set to be built on their doorstep.
Sally Willshire and David Sheils believe their safety, ability to enter or depart their property and social lives will be heavily impacted by proposed intersection works on Lillico Rd.
And, they have no opportunity to object. Whilst the road is two lanes, the intersection catering for the Parkside Estate residential development will see two turning or deceleration lanes added. This will create four lanes of traffic for the couple to navigate at the point of their driveway.
They also will lose part of their nature strip, currently utilised as a turning circle for safe entry and exit as well as guest parking.
Whilst praising Baw Baw Shire councillors and staff, along with Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham, for attending their property to view the intersection site and hear their grievances, Ms Willshire says “we’re not getting anywhere at all.”
She said they couldn’t object the proposed intersection as its part of Warragul’s Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) approved in 2014.
They have been advised their only option to object was to pursue legal action.
Having lived at the property for 12 years before the PSP was approved, Ms Willshire said safety was the key issue.
She noted “horrible yellow bollards” were planned to protect motorists from colliding with a power pole in front of their property.
“This is unsafe and dangerous,” she said. “Why else is there power pole protection at our doorstep and along the stretch of road that is being widened?”
“There will be accidents, mark my words,” Mr Sheils said.
“We accept the reality that it’s not going away,” Ms Willshire added, but called for further consultation to make the works fair, safe and reasonable.
As ratepayers in the shire for almost 50 years, the couple expressed frustration at not being able to view current, detailed plans or gain a timeframe for works.
Whilst the intersection will cut into their front nature strip, they have fought for an extra one to one-and-a-half metres to enable a vehicle turning circle and guest parking.
Instead, the couple say they have been advised to remove their small front garden for vehicle access.
“(It) will irrevocably change our social relationships with family and friends,” Ms Willshire said.
“To create any sort of extra parking we’d lose most of our front yard. With all the impositions we currently face, suggesting that we could remove a substantial part of this area would take away the little bit of privacy that we’ll be left with as well as the pleasure it affords us.”
Baw Baw Shire Council said applications under PSP were excluded from advertising and public notice. When asked what avenue the residents had to oppose works, the shire said “residents may obtain their own independent legal advice”.
The shire said a planning permit had been granted for a residential subdivision at 234 Lillico Rd, subject to conditions. These conditions include construction of the intersection as part of stage three works.
The developer has had functional layout plans approved and the detailed engineering plans are yet to be submitted, the shire noted.
When asked about safety measures, the shire said a speed reduction from 100km/h to 80km/h was proposed.
“A swale drain will be removed, nature strips will be evened, and kerb and channels are proposed on both sides of the road to clearly delineate the width of the pavement,” it said. “Electricity poles will be protected for the safety of all road users.”
The shire said there were no plans for underground power lines but the road was earmarked for a future upgrade, adding this “is not required to achieve the clear zones to the roadway”.
“The intersection works are confined to the road reserve and do not encroach the adjacent private property,” the shire said. “It is the responsibility of landowners to cater for their own parking needs within their property.”
“The proposed intersection works are within the road reserve.
“After the proposed changes, the process of reversing from their driveways will not differ except that the width of nature strip will be reduced,” the shire said.