By Bonny Burrows
Residents of an unsealed section of Beaconsfield’s Rix Road are fed up with the road’s condition; however council says it has identified no concerns with the pavement.
Rix Road residents Marilyn Brown and Shareen Mollenhauer are sick to death of having to “four-wheel-drive it” out their own driveways while works are underway at the neighbouring Beaconsfield Roses Estate.
For the last 12 months since Ms Mollenhauer moved in, coinciding with the development’s works, the neighbours say they have battled pot holes, drainage issues and uneven road surfaces and have witnessed “a number” of construction trucks getting bogged in the mud.
The pair have contacted Cardinia Shire Council multiple times requesting Rix Road west of Brunt Road to be sealed, but are unsatisfied with the “Band-Aid solutions” and its delayed response.
“We want something done with the road, not this sub-par grading,” Ms Brown said.
“Ideally, we’d like the road sealed and the drains dug out to get the water flowing again, but it’s very hard to get answers from council.”
Ms Mollenhauer said the pooled water as a result of the “poor drainage”, posed a health risk to her young children.
“It’s a health hazard, it’s not good and attracts the mossies,” Ms Mollenhauer said.
“I don’t want my kids playing on the street with stagnant water.”
The residents argued council had a responsibility to ensure the road was fixed, but its failure to act left them feeling like the “poor end” of Rix Road.
“We pay rates just like anyone else, yet we don’t get any services. We’re always forgotten about,” Ms Brown said.
“We’d probably be better not getting council’s help, but doing it (the road upgrade) ourselves. It would probably be quicker.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s co-ordinator of operations, Mark Howard said the unsealed road was “proactively inspected” in accordance with council’s road management plan.
It had been graded as recently as last week, he said, following a resident inquiry.
“An inspection of the unsealed section of Rix Road was completed last Friday 12 May, which identified no concerns with the pavement surface,” Mr Howard said.
“However, minor issues with the open drains were identified and works to rectify these issues will be completed by the end of June.
“Additionally, the section of Rix Road to the west of the Brunt Road intersection is currently being upgraded by the developer as part of the development of Beaconsfield Roses Estate.”
