FEBRUARY 12, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Land grab for road fix By Esther Lauaki Wyndham council has taken ownership of eight blocks of land at Tarneit and Truganina as it prepares to fix some of Wyndham’s most notorious intersections. Councillors last week gave the green light for the public acquisition of the land surrounding the two intersections at Woods and Dohertys roads, Boundary and Derrimut roads, as well as land for the Leakes Road duplication. Wyndham city design and liveability director Aaron Chiles said each project was “critical to improve road capacity in Tarneit and Truganina”. The council applied to the planning minister last August for an amendment to its planning scheme to include the public acquisition of land for vital projects. The amendment was put out for public comment in October. No submissions were received. Mr Chiles said the land would help provide critical road infrastructure. “Many sections of Wyndham’s roads have reached capacity, and some are carrying far more traffic than they were designed for,” he said. “This is causing traffic jams, delayed bus services and traffic safety issues. “Wyndham’s commuters and freight industries urgently need upgrades to arterial roads, intersections and freeway interchanges. “To this end, council has been upgrading local roads to meet Wyndham’s current and future needs.” The rural intersections of both Woods and Dohertys roads and Boundary and Derrimut roads require traffic signals, while the Leakes Road duplication aims to alleviate congestion. “[Boundary and Derrimut Road] intersection has a poor crash history, but it has not resulted in the intersection being considered a ‘blackspot’ site,” Mr Chiles said. “As part of the Western Road Upgrade project, detours will direct additional traffic through this intersection, further impacting on its safety. “Council is upgrading Boundary Road east of this intersection which is likely to encourage more drivers to use this intersection.” VicRoads manages Derrimut-Hopkins Road, and Wyndham manages Boundary Road. Mayor Josh Gilligan said figures showed there were 59 crashes at Boundary Road in the past five years. He called for VicRoads to fund traffic lights at the dangerous intersection. Late last year, the speed limit was reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h on the Derrimut-Hopkins Road between Dohertys Road and Middle Road in Truganina.
Show is in shipshape A titanic charity event will be held at the Sanctuary Lakes Club this month to raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal. The appeal is The Royal Children’s Hospital’s largest annual fundraising event. Husband and wife Paul von Harder and Leonie Collins will star in Titanic: A night to remember, alongside performers Matt Hadgraft and Penny Pullman. Ms Collins has also performed the show in London, Macau and New York. “We have a lot of fun doing what we’re doing – it really is about doing what we love doing, and saying we’re not too old for it,” she said. “There is plenty of audience participation in the show. “It really is a fun night with a great storyline – we don’t focus on the sinking.” Titanic: A night to remember will be held at 6pm on Saturday, February 29. Tickets: $90 include the show, three course-meal and welcome drink. The night will include raffles, spots prizes and a best costume prize. Book: trybooking.com Alesha Capone
Leonie Collins and Paul von Harder. (Joe Mastroianni) 203950_05
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