By Afraa Kori
Upper Beaconsfield residents are facing a “dangerous crisis” as the entire 950-meter length Kitchen Road has deteriorated into a hazard.
It’s severely damaged with corrugations, potholes, and washaways, especially after the heavy rains in the area. Gravel has filled the drain, which is now completely blocked and overgrown, preventing water from flowing naturally and worsening the road conditions.
This is putting lives, vehicles, and the environment at risk. Like many road users, Mr Robinson’s vehicle has been damaged by the severe corrugations on the road, which have rattled bolts loose, causing parts to shift and fall off.
The issue has been present since Mr Robinson first frequented the area in early 2023 and has continued since he moved there in June 2024. However, residents on this road reported that the problem has been ongoing for years, with the council only conducting maintenance once every 2–3 years.
“The root cause of the problem is the lack of proper maintenance and management of the unsealed road network in the area,” he said.
“Dumping rock several months before a grader gets around to the road just means all the rock is washed away into the gutters. But in the mean time we have loose gravel which presents other issues such as unsafe road conditions and the higher likelihood of smashed windows.”
With the road falling apart and corrugations present, emergency evacautions become a serious concern, especially given the fire danger in the area.
“Not only is the road in shambles, the overgrowth on the edges is a fire risk. The local CFA have told residents on this road that if a fire broke out here, they would not come down our road to help due to the extreme risk it would put their volunteer firefighters under.”
However, Upper Beaconsfield CFA, Captain Ian Pinney has denied these claims, stating that the brigade would always respond to emergencies and prioritise residents safety.
Mr Robinson initially reported the issue using Snap Send Solve, then followed up with the council through email and phone calls.
“The council appeared to lack empathy or concern in regards to the issues raised. I was told that raising additional complaints would not help nor speed up the process. All council members I have spoken to over the phone have been dismissive and unhelpful. They closed my complaint without ever sending someone out to inspect the road.”
“Many others who share this road have expressed concerns for their safety, and have complained to council in the past and gotten nowhere. I feel as though people are just accepting there is nothing they can do about it.”
“If I could rate them a negative number I would. I’m appalled at the lack of care the council has for residents in the area. They’re more concerned about putting in a new skate park rather than maintaining the safety of our roads.”
Residents would like to see the council take a more proactive and professional approach to issues in the area.
“Rather than waiting for things to become so bad that people complain, routine inspections of roads should be conducted. Same goes for inspections of road edges such as the overgrowth of trees blocking the view at intersections, creating a hazard for all road users,” Mr Robinson said.
“This could be addressed by the council taking proper action and setting aside time to do the job properly and in a shorter timeframe (don’t dump gravel and then come back months later to grade it, because it’s no longer there!). If the council performed maintenance twice a year, to a good standard, there would be less cost involved as less work is needed to get the road back to an acceptable level.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s General Manager Infrastructure and Environment, Peter Benazic said they are committed to maintaining Kitchen Road through regular inspections and maintenance.
“Council can confirm that regular maintenance and grading works have been performed on the unsealed section of Kitchen Road in Beaconsfield Upper, and that the road is included in Council’s proactive maintenance schedule. Grading works occurred on Kitchen Rd on 17 October 2024, 10 December 2024, and 15 January 2025. Kitchen Rd is next scheduled for grading around the 31 July 2025, as the road has a 4C classification.”
“In addition to these works, council also conducts an annual Fire Season Roadside Slashing Program, which begins each November in high fire risk areas such as the townships within the Dandenong Ranges, to reduce roadside fuel loads and to help mitigate risks.”
However, despite this, sometimes additional maintenance works are needed earlier or unexpectedly to address faults.
The council appreciates when the community reports these road issues, as it helps them identify the problem and perform these works faster.
For more information on Road Management Plan or to report a road issue, please visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/roads
