Dangerous conditions from truck convoys

by Courtney O'Brien

Longwarry residents have been facing dangerous road conditions every day for the past three months as convoys of trucks dump soil on a property in A R Gardner Rd.

With only five trucks allowed into the property at one time, trucks are parked for hundreds of meters along Edgar Rd, a 100 km/hr zone, waiting to turn in.

Drivers are left to either take their chances and drive around the convoy into the path of oncoming traffic, or wait up to half an hour before they can see if it is safe to pass the trucks.

"It is very dangerous with motorists from both directions unable to see if there are any oncoming vehicles," said neighbouring property owner John (not his real name).

"They recently put in very sub-par traffic management solutions. It has been more for the truck drivers than other motorists, with signs directing trucks where to stop and park," he said.

More than 20 trucks were waiting to access the site when another local was travelling through.

"The traffic management was set up at 100 metres from intersection. (The) problem was general traffic was sitting a further 100 to 150 metres behind all the trucks. You could not see the traffic controller's sign (Stop or Slow) so it was difficult to know when to go or sit and wait.

"Because of where the trucks are positioned, visibility is extremely limited. You can't see far enough ahead to make a safe decision about whether it's clear to pass, so you're effectively left taking a risk just to get through," he said.
The trucks with dog trailers have been travelling to the property for nine months, but activity has ramped up recently with hundreds travelling to and from the property daily.
Local residents are increasingly concerned about excessive road damage, pedestrian safety issues, environmental and biosecurity issues.
Residents claim Edgar Rd and Old Drouin Rd are impacted, with neither road designed to handle the volume or weight impact of hundreds of heavy vehicles.
"There has been considerable damage. The drainage on the roadsides are stuffed, the verges are damaged and the road is slipping away in multiple locations," John said.
"There's an increase in dirt and mud, it's just despicable. When it's dry, the dust is just horrible."
Engine noise, drivers honking and tooting and milling about on neighbours' lawns have also caused ongoing and excessive noise pollution and security concerns.
John said he was told the soil was a fill pad for a farmer's feedlot. However, he and other residents suspect the soil was being transported from the Suburban Rail Loop.
John questioned whether there was a permit to dump the soil because no building works were being carried out.
The King Parrot Creek runs through the property, and it is close to bushland.
John is concerned about potential contamination and the biosecurity threat to his property and horses.
He has contacted Baw Baw Shire Council and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) multiple times.
"They don't take our reports seriously or make appropriate investigations."
Baw Baw Shire infrastructure and environment services director James Robinson said council had been responding to the issue and initial investigations raised no planning or enforcement breaches.
"Council is now arranging a follow up inspection with the EPA in response to further information and will make referrals to any necessary relevant authorities," he said.
"Council has also requested changes to the applicant's traffic management plan; to help with traffic flow in the area and to ensure locals can safely move around the trucks that are queuing. Heavy or long vehicles cannot be parked on a road in a built-up area for longer than an hour unless there's a sign permitting this, or the driver is picking up or setting down goods.
"If residents are seeing trucks parked (not queuing), they should contact council so that parking officers can attend," he said.
Longwarry Twinkle Kids Early Learning Centre is located in Edgar Rd, with children often playing on the green space across the road.
"It's only a matter a time before a truck doing more than the speed limit comes around the corner and someone's picking up their child or crossing the road," John said, fearing for the safety of the community.
John said he understood the need for civil companies to have a designated site for clean fill.
"But I don't think it should be at the expense of the neighbouring land and the safety of people in the township to do it.
"There needs to be a much better solution for a dump site, and stronger state or council by-laws around clean fill sites, for the management and control of safety and regulations.
"I understand it is needed, but not at the detriment to the ratepayer or neighbouring communities. The roads are not designed for 100 dog trailers travelling up and down the road," he said.
The EPA has been contacted for comment.