By NATALIE GALLENTI
A STRING of road accidents on a Taylors Hill street has left a mother-of-three living in fear.
Julie Grima, who lives on Silvertree Avenue, told Star she is constantly worried about the safety of her family and her neighbours, and is calling on both Melton and Brimbank councils to install traffic devices to slow down motorists and protect the community.
Silvertree Avenue crosses the border of both Melton and Brimbank, with about 70m occurring within the City of Melton.
Ms Grima said in the spate of three days there were two incidents on the street, including a driver ploughing into the front window of her neighbour’s property – fortunately the family was not home at the time. If that was not bad enough, only two days later another motorist hit a tree on the street.
The frustrated resident said she had contacted both councils and claimed the response she had received had been the same at both ends, with officers blaming budget constraints or pointing the finger at the other council.
“What are they going to do? Does there have to be a fatality before something happens?” she asked.
“I feel like no one is listening to me … we’re all afraid, we don’t feel safe … I want to move.”
Ms Grima said last year a driver lost control coming around the bend and landing in a man’s garden.
“I’m even scared to walk the kids to school, even if I’m in the garden with my toddler … I’m scared (a driver) will kill or injure us.
“It’s been pure luck that no one has been injured yet.”
Melton City Council’s engineering services manager Les Stokes said the council was aware of the issue and spoke to a number of residents last week.
Mr Stokes said in the past the council had installed a splitter island on the bend and warning signage to slow vehicles down and make them aware of the bend.
“Council officers have been out on site twice over the past two days and are conducting an investigation into what further improvements can be made and have arranged for repairs to signage damaged as a result of the recent traffic accident,” Mr Stokes said.
He said the council would also organise an independent road safety audit to assess the site during both night and day and provide recommendations of any further works if appropriate.
Brimbank City Council director of infrastructure and environment Paul Younis said the council was proposing to install road humps along the Brimbank side of the municipal boundary.
Mr Younis said the installation of the road humps was included in the current capital works program and would be stalled this financial year.
