‘Accident waiting to happen’: Locals calling out dangerous Bellarine Peninsula road
Locals have described the area of Friday’s fatal collision in Portarlington as “a problem area” with thousands of tourists descend on the region over peak holiday period.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Portarlington residents have described a busy Bellarine road where a woman died last week as “an accident waiting to happen”.
Jill Collins, 65, died when her car collided with another vehicle along Portarlington Rd on Friday.
Four people from the other vehicle, including an eight-week-old baby and a two-year-old girl, were taken to hospital.
On Tuesday, emergency services were called to another two-car crash less than a kilometre from the scene of the fatal collision.
A Geelong Highway Patrol officer said that crash occurred after a car failed to give way while turning left onto Portarlington Rd, from Point Richards Rd.
Resident Keith Bissell, who lives near the crash site, said he was concerned that if plans to build a multimillion dollar chocolate factory at the intersection near the crash site were approved, the road could become more dangerous.
If approved, the massive development, by The Bellarine Chocolate Co, is set to include a chocolaterie, restaurant, 12 farm stay cabins, children’s farm, berry gardens and an apple orchard on a 234,000sq m plot of land on Point Richards Road.
“I would have expected (the crash) to happen right there,” Mr Bissell said.
“This has been a problem area for a long time. You basically have to turn to your left if you are doing a right hand turn to see oncoming traffic.
“And they are talking about building a chocolate factory there which would increase traffic. It is crazy.”
Other residents took to social media calling for the road to be duplicated.
“Population has grown but not the infrastructure,” one resident wrote.
Department of Transport data shows up to 8000 cars travel along the stretch of road every day, while the population of the Bellarine grew by 6.46 per cent within the last year.
According to the City of Greater Geelong, about 12,000 tourists travel to Portarlington over the summer period.
Transport Accident Commission acting chief executive officer Liz Cairns urged all drivers to slow down when travelling to tourist hot spots across the region.
“We know the roads are busy in the Geelong region, particularly during the holidays, and we’re urging everyone to be patient,” she said.
The Department of Transport and Planning’s Barwon South West regional director, Michael Tudball, said the department worked with police after every serious crash to determine if improvement needed to made to a road.
Since January 1 this year, 11 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Accident waiting to happen’: Locals calling out dangerous Bellarine Peninsula road
‘Violated’: Victims of upskirting personal trainer speak
A victim of a personal trainer found guilty of sexual assault and upskirting has told a court she felt stripped of her dignity and self-worth by his actions.
‘Rogue’: Greens candidate in hot water over fence damage
Just when you thought this council campaign had seen it all, a drill, fence and second-hand car yard have become front and centre in the latest corflute controversy.