By Natalie Gallenti
SYDENHAM residents and traders are not surprised that a petition calling on Brimbank City Council to curb speeding and traffic noise along Calder Park Drive has been ignored.
The petition, presented to council in late July, listed more than 100 signatures comprising Brimbank and Melton residents residing on the east and west of Calder Park Drive, and raised concerns about dangerous driving along the busy road.
The petition called for the reduction of the speed limit to 40km.
However, at last week’s council meeting, it was determined that recent modification made to the road had already significantly cut down on speed and noise.
Raylee Yorston, who lives on Manchester Drive, just off Calder Park Drive, and a well known hotspot for speeding motorists, said it didn’t surprise her that council was determined to sit on their hands.
“As usual, nothing is done until a fatality occurs,” Ms Yorston said.
The concerned mother said Calder Park Drive, with its soft edges, was ideal for hoon drivers, and she had witnessed numerous accidents in recent years.
Police have reported six crashes between 2003-2008, but the road is not considered a blackspot site under the VicRoads criteria.
Ms Yorston said she often heard cars speeding along her street out onto Calder Park Drive in the early hours of the morning and feared for the safety of youngsters in the area.
Local trader Sam Sleiman said speeding had always been a problem, however speed cameras and an increase in police presence had seen the problem ease slightly in the past couple of years.
But the local fish and chip shop owner said there was still a long way to go and called on council to install speed humps.
David Anderson, secretary of the Delahey Action Group, said council could not lower the speed limit or put in speed humps because the road will one day provide a vital link between Calder Freeway and Princes Freeway.
However, Mr Anderson said if the road had been properly duplicated there would be fewer problems for local residents.
