LOCKWOOD residents, tired of dusty and potentially dangerous conditions on their roads, are calling on council take action.
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Thirty-eight residents of Nevinson and McKinnons roads have signed a petition submitted to City of Greater Bendigo ahead of Wednesday’s, March 23, ordinary meeting, requesting that something be done to address what they say are severe problems with dust.
Petition organiser Norman Harris was prompted to get the ball rolling when a neighbour reported the dust was worsening his health issues.
“Every time a car went past, his house was smothered with dust,” Mr Harris said.
Mr Harris said residents living along the roads had experienced a plethora of problems, including poor visibility on the road, cracked windscreens, and dust blowing into homes.
In certain windy conditions houses had to remain entirely closed up to prevent dust entering, he said, causing discomfort in hotter weather.
Mr Harris said a resident even came close to serious injury while jogging along Nevinson Road, when a passing car flicked up a rock that hit him near his eye.
“It’s better now that it’s rained, but go back a month, five weeks ago, the dust was unbelievable,” he said.
He said the dust became so thick at times that it even limited the effectiveness of solar panels on houses.
Long-time McKinnons Road residents Ron and Jenny Shepherd signed the petition, having tried to get something done about the road for years.
Mrs Shepherd said the road saw a lot of traffic from heavy vehicles, including water trucks and school buses.
“When it’s bad, you can’t see the bus, let alone the kids,” she said.
Mr Shepherd said the family had experienced multiple issues with their cars, including worn-out brakes, tyres and shock absorbers, caused by the road surface they had to drive on regularly.
Mrs Shepherd told the Bendigo Advertiser that while the road received routine maintenance, the work did not go far enough to address the dust problem.
The roads were also sprayed with water, but Mr Harris said “water on the roads doesn’t do much”.
Mr Harris said all residents approached to sign the petition were happy to do so.
Council officers recommended a response to the petition be prepared within two meetings.
