Ron Browne, front, is shown with Councillor Maria Sampey, Coral Andrew, Alani, Russell and Norma Murphy and Jean Browne. The residents are sick of speeding drivers in Gardiner Avenue. 72577 Inset: An out of control car crashed into Mr Browne’s house recently.Pictures: Donna Oates
By Nicole Williams
DRIVERS speeding along Gardiner Avenue in Dandenong North are causing carnage in the street.
The street’s residents have submitted a petition to Greater Dandenong Council for speed humps after two months of serious and near serious incidents.
Ron Browne has lived in the street for near 50 years and said the catalyst came when a car narrowly missed two young children last month.
“A dog was killed outside my place about three weeks ago and two little kids were almost collected a few days later,” he said.
“And just before the dog was hit, a car hit the front wall of my lounge room.
“It’s a safety issue. When the kids almost got collected that was the end of it for me.”
Mr Browne said no residents in the street could ignore the issue.
“We hear the cars all day all night – the noise is there all the time,” he said.
“The amount of times I’ve almost been hit on the corner of the street in my car because they come around the corner on the wrong side of the road.
“There are not too many that heed the speed limit.”
The opening of Eastlink and the Heatherton Road access has only made the problem worse in Gardiner Avenue.
“It’s been worse since Eastlink because when they come off the freeway, it’s more or less the first street into the area,” he said.
“They hoon around with the lights and come straight in.”
Nineteen residents of Gardiner Avenue, and nearby Mollison Street and Koonalda Grove, have signed Mr Browne’s petition, which was submitted to the council at this week’s meeting.
It calls for the installation of two speed humps on Gardiner Avenue.
“I talked to the neighbours and everyone I got to see signed the petition,” Mr Browne said.
“We need speed humps or something like that to slow them down.”
“All my kids have left the area but I don’t want to see anyone else’s kids get flattened. I really am concerned about it.”
Greater Dandenong’s engineering services director Bruce Rendall said the council had contacted Mr Browne and would investigate his concerns.
“The council is investigating the traffic concerns raised in Gardiner Avenue, Dandenong North, including completing a traffic survey,” he said.
“Once this analysis is complete the council will establish what measures are required in Gardiner Avenue and assess this against municipal-wide traffic safety needs.”
