Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 8 March 2011
VOL 9. No 10
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Dean Webster (front) has joined with Andrew Katos (second from left), Brian McKiterick (second from right) and SES Torquay volunteers Linda Cherubin and John Symington to push for traffic lights at the intersection of Beach Road and the Surf Coast Highway.
Gas leak causes evacuation HOUSES and businesses were evacuated in Torquay yesterday following a gas leak. Contractors working in Rudd Avenue put a post-hole digger through gas mains about 11.30am, causing the leak. Police closed off access to Rudd Avenue and evacuated houses, as well as businesses on the corner of Bell Street. “Police and the CFA have cut access to the road and we have been told to evacuate until they say it is safe to return,” said Barrie Sutherland from WaterMarks Gallery. “The restaurant was told to turn off its gas burners and leave and I think some of the people at the pub have been evacuated as well.” Residents and businesses were allowed back into their premises shortly after lunch.
LIGHT IT UP Photo: ELEANOR WOODS
Concerted push grows for traffic lights at dangerous Torquay intersection
BY NATHAN HALE VICROADS is coming under increasing pressure to bow to community, state government and local council concerns and build a set of traffic lights at a notoriously dangerous Torquay intersection. The intersection at the Surf Coast Highway and Beach Road has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous in the shire. Last week State Member for South Barwon, Andrew Katos, tabled a petition with more than 500 signatures in parliament, while shire mayor Dean Webster and Torquay police’s Brian McKiterick have also thrown their support behind the push.
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“For years now council, with the support of Torquay police, has been applying to VicRoads for funding of the signalisation of this dangerous intersection, which is a VicRoads responsibility, only to be told that it’s not a high priority on their works programme because there has not been a serious injury or death recorded here,” Webster said. “I join the local member and the police in saying our community shouldn’t have to wait until someone dies to get action on this and I call on VicRoads and the government to be proactive, not reactive, when the lives of our community are at stake.” Webster said the amount of traffic using Beach Road will increase greatly within the next 12 months once the linking with Eton Road is complete.
“This intersection is downright dangerous and will only get worse when this becomes the alternate route to the schools with the connection of Beach Road through to Eton Road and the school shortly,” he said. Katos confirmed he will be speaking with Member for Polwarth and Minister for Transport, Terry Mulder, in the near future to lobby his support. Katos, too, agreed that a serious accident should not have to occur before action is taken. “This intersection is recognised as a problem by Surf Coast Shire Council due to its location to major shopping centres, surf shops, factory outlets, holiday parks and restaurants,” he said. “It is the agreed highest priority intersection for
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future treatment along the Surf Coast Highway in Torquay.” McKiterick said that the median strip only adds to the confusion of drivers, especially visitors to the region during the busy holiday periods. “The highway is a major link to the Great Ocean Road and is used by a lot international drivers, some of which who are unsure of the road rules,” he said. “There is the difficulty with the median strip which can cause confusion, and there are also blind spots. This makes it very difficult to cross safely.” If traffic lights are erected at the intersection, the pedestrian lights just 100 metres along the highway would be removed.
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