By Afraa Kori
Beaconsfield residents say increased traffic noise and safety concerns are disrupting daily life, with calls for action from local and state representatives going unanswered.
The increase in traffic volume and noise became noticeable after the installation of the traffic lights. Since then, many drivers have started accelerating rapidly to get ahead of others or to beat the lights before they change.
However, the most significant change occurred after the O’Shea Road extension opened. This new route has become a direct connection to several destinations, which has significantly increased traffic through the area.
Additionally, the opening of a service station and takeaway food outlets near Officer has further added to the traffic passing behind homes.
Local teacher Cindy believes the road is being used as a drag strip, with drivers revving their engines loudly and taking off at speed. This has led to a noticeable rise in noise, especially from trucks using air brakes and changing gears, and from motorcycles speeding around the corner.
“The noise is so severe and sudden at times that it frequently startles and wakes the children at night, who wake screaming and crying due to the fright,” Cindy said.
“This has created a constant feeling of anxiety and agitation for both myself and my family, as we worry about the impact on the children’s sleep.
“The recent closure of the freeway from Clyde Road to O’Shea Road has further increased traffic on this road, and the constant noise—especially through the night—has significantly impacted my ability to sleep.
“I’ve lived in the area for seven years and we love our home, but I’ve seriously considered relocating because the ongoing noise has affected both our quality of life and my overall enjoyment of our home.
Other residents living in the lower section of the street have raised similar concerns about persistent traffic noise from the road behind their homes.
Those at the top end of the court face a different issue—the additional impact of noise coming from the Pink Hill Hotel.
There is also a childcare centre located on the corner of Pink Hill Boulevard and O’Neill Road, which would also be affected by the increased noise.
Despite the noise, an even greater concern for residents is the safety risk posed by the potential for a speeding vehicle to come off the road and down the embankment towards the walking path or the childcare centre below.
“During the school term, many young people also walk along this stretch to get to school, making the presence of hooning and speeding drivers particularly alarming,” Cindy said.
“I have serious concerns about the safety of the children there, especially if one of the hoon drivers were to lose control and veer down the hill towards the centre.”
The impact on the community, particularly those living directly behind the road, should have been given more consideration during the planning stages.
“It feels as though no one cares, as long as they can showcase new roads being built, without addressing the real consequences on the people living here,” Cindy said.
“There was no consultation with local residents before the road modifications began. During construction, I raised concerns and enquired about the installation of noise barriers. I was told that the road already existed when we built our home, and that there would be no measures put in place to reduce noise or provide a safety barrier for the walking path below.”
Berwick MP Brad Battin advocated on behalf of his constituents to the government in response to concerns raised by local residents.
Melissa Horne, the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, suggested that property owners could take steps to reduce the impact of traffic noise themselves, such as installing roof insulation, acoustic window glazing, and sealing gaps around doors and windows.
“In an effort to reduce the noise impact on my family, I’ve personally installed roller shutters and added an extra layer of acoustic ceiling insulation in our home. Unfortunately, neither modification has made much of a difference,” Cindy said.
“These suggestions are not helpful. I’ve already added roof insulation, and upgrading all our windows to double glazing is simply not financially feasible. More importantly, it’s unreasonable to expect residents to bear the cost of mitigating noise caused by major road changes that were made without proper consultation.”
The Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said there are currently no plans to install new noise barriers in the area, but they will consider this feedback while planning for future upgrades to Victoria’s road network.
“We understand the impact of noise from major roads and freeways on residents, that is why we have developed a guide providing homeowners with advice to manage and reduce noise levels at their properties.”
Residents believe that in both the short and long term, there needs to be a noise barrier in place that is also strong enough to prevent vehicles from going down the embankment. They also feel there should be more active law enforcement to address unsafe driving and excessively noisy vehicles. Additionally, residents are calling for signage to be installed to discourage the use of air brakes on trucks, especially since this is a residential area.
