Above: Dandenong North residents Denise and John Weston with the Eastlink ramp that continually grows in height, blowing dust into the Weston’s home and backyard.By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG North residents are demanding answers from Eastlink engineers after a huge red clay wall behind their properties grows taller every day.
Burchall Grove residents John and Denise Weston said red dust from an under-construction Eastlink freeway ramp almost adjoining their property has blown into their backyard and inside their house since building began in November last year.
The Westons believe they can not sell their property because they say no one will pay to live near the mound.
Mr Weston said the ramp’s height seems to grow by “a metre a day” and blocks sunsets.
And the sun is destined to set even earlier for the Westons when a six-metre sound barrier is placed on top of it.
The couple says its health and lifestyle have deteriorated as a result of the dust-laden air, including mild allergic reactions that resemble hayfever.
After speaking to Eastlink public relations officers on almost a daily basis since November, the Westons said they have not been given answers to questions over the final height of the ramp and which chemicals are used to suppress the dust.
The lack of information and consultation has left the Westons doubtful that Eastlink management is in control of the situation.
“It’s not the workers’ fault,” Mrs Weston said. “It is a lack of proper management.”
She said an engineer said the ramp’s height was “evolving” and a final height could not be predicted.
But she said it was wrong for engineers to not know the final height of a section of one of Melbourne’s biggest road engineering projects.
Thiess John Holland general manager of stakeholder relations, Anthony Havers, said in a statement that the dust had blown in as a result of extreme weather conditions, and the company was working on suppressing it.
A private meeting is set to take place on 3 February between the Westons, Thiess John Holland and two other Burchall Grove property owners.
