Residents living along the Berwick Bypass want sound barriers built to block persistent traffic noise from their homes. From left, Clint Prytuda, Janita Bettio, Louisa Bettio, Liberal candidate for Narre Warren South Michael Shepherdson, Bernie Washington, Ray Fleming, Ian Graham, Kevin Gorry, and Andrea Shokavich.By Jim Mynard
LIBERAL candidate for Narre Warren South Michael Shepherdson joined residents living along the Berwick Bypass section of the Monash Freeway on Saturday, 22 April to again call for noise barriers.
Beaconsfield in Casey Residents Action Group (BICRAG) spokesperson Ray Fleming has also again hit out over long delays in getting the promised noise barriers.
He again called on VicRoads and the State Government to build the sound barriers.
Mr Shepherdson said the project to construct the barriers was listed in the top 10 most urgent requests but other projects of a lesser priority had since been installed.
He said the Beaconsfield Berwick barriers had since been placed on a lower priority.
“I have asked the shadow transport minister Terry Mulder to obtain information on government spending on sound barriers.
“The only way to get the information is to go through a freedom of information process,” he said.
Mr Fleming said the residents’ campaign to have sound barriers erected from Soldiers Road to the end of Brookvale Close was started four years ago.
“VicRoads acknowledged that we are eligible for sound barriers through noise tests.
“Apart from the noise factor we have pointed out to VicRoads the safety issue where people (including school children) cross the freeway through vacant blocks and sometimes through resident’s properties to take a short cut to the Beaconsfield station and township,” Mr Fleming said.
“VicRoads has a steel mesh fence along the freeway which proves ineffective to stop people as holes are easily cut for them to go through.
“Solid noise barriers will prove far more effective to stop people crossing the freeway, also the privacy issue, with the freeway being above resident’s homes, leading to some harassment in the form of cars and trucks blowing their horns at residents going about their business in their backyards.
“Some cowboys in trucks consider it fun to apply their engine brakes when passing our area,” he said.
