Thursday, 10 February 2022

Bulleen electorate roads

Mr GUY (Bulleen—Leader of the Opposition) (09:36): I rise to raise concerns about the government’s upgrade around Williamsons Road in Templestowe, which sadly will moonscape vegetation and flush cars down local roads to the detriment of many local residents. This issue has been raised by Manningham City Council, me and locals as well, not just with the government but with the North East Link Program, a number of times. It seems—whether there is unwillingness, an inability or just belligerence in providing any information—residents, the council and even I cannot find any information from any of the authorities or the government as to what indeed is occurring in this space. To treat the residents of Hawtin and Mandella streets and the precincts around them with such disrespect is disgraceful. And sadly it is not a one-off instance with this government; it is a pattern of behaviour.

Just some simple questions: why is large vegetation that acts as a noise-dampening measure being removed for little or no reason along Williamsons Road? Why are new footpaths in this area being built flush to back fences, resulting in major vegetation loss, when new paths have been constructed recently on the other side of the road? Why has it taken months of badgering for the North East Link Program and the government to finally put measures in place to discourage Eltham-bound traffic from using Hawtin Street as a rat run, which has resulted in a suburban street becoming utterly gridlocked? Residents are frustrated; they have had enough. They cannot get answers, the council cannot and I cannot. This statement is a point of sheer exhaustion by all of us that the government frankly cares about no-one but itself, and it is a point we have also seen play out in the last 24 hours.