WTF: Scary parks, roads that are dark, and still no navy shorts at Kardinia Park
They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating! And hopefully by highlighting them we can get them fixed.
Scared commuters makes for an empty car park
While frustrated commuters do battle for parking spots at Geelong and North Geelong train
stations, you could fire a gun in the North Shore carpark further along the V/Line track and
not hit a thing.
Of more than 200 car spots, only about 20 were occupied at the prime peak-hour slot of
9am last Friday.
And that included an abandoned car with police tape, bound to deter would-be parkers,
especially as the vehicle had been stripped of many parts.
Some commuters were adamant they wouldn’t risk leaving vehicles there unattended for a
long day working in Melbourne, fearing the surrounding area’s reputation as a bit of a crime
hotspot could prove costly.
“You’d be brave to leave your car here,” one traveller said after being dropped off by a
neighbour.
“Who knows if it would be here when you got back?
“Maybe a security guard patrolling the carpark would make it safer to park.”
Of course, not all trains to and from Melbourne stop at North Shore, begging the question
of whether cash spent on an expansive carpark that appears quite new would have been
better directed closer to town.
Surely consultants did an expensive feasibility study before rolling out the asphalt and line-
markers at North Shore.
Some of the parks look like they’ve never seen a car.
No copper, shocker … Another Geelong road left in the dark
A major road in Lovely Banks has been left in the dark for more than a year after it was believed to be targeted by copper wire thieves.
Residents say street lighting on Anakie Rd, near the Geelong Ring Rd, has been out for more than 18 months.
“It’s very dangerous,” a local resident said.
About 5km away, residents in Bell Post Hill have said the lights on Ballarat Rd have been out for more than six months, also due to the theft of copper wiring.
Copper wire can carry up to 1500 volts and can cause serious injury or death when interfered with.
Authorities are trialling ways to deter copper theft.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said “we’re making plans for repairs at the site and exploring ways to make them more resistant to theft and vandalism.”
“Copper wire theft puts lives at risk and disables critical road infrastructure.”
‘Nightmare’ on Winki Way
Going shopping is stressful enough with cost of living pressures rising, but in Torquay, shoppers at a supermarket are having to contend with a bigger issue.
According to local resident John, leaving Winki Way Aldi is a “nightmare,” with cars parked on the street restricting view, and causing accidents.
“Cars are parking on the street instead of the carpark,” John said.
“You can’t see traffic coming from your right.
“There’s free parking in Aldi, it’s a sizeable one, people are lazy.”
He suggested a no stopping zone along the road.
According to Surf Coast Shire general manager for place making and environment Jane Spence, council is “currently working on improving safety on Winki Way, Torquay, and will be installing dedicated parking bays and no standing restriction signs.”
“Council is making these changes after receiving reports of motorists travelling on the wrong side of the road, parking in an unsafe manner, and driving unsafely when leaving businesses along Winki Way,” Ms Spence said.
“Council officers informed local businesses of these upcoming improvements in July 2024, with installation by end of October 2024.”
The plot thickens …
Last week WTF shined a light on the Cats white-short conspiracy.
Before the weekend, the Cats were 11-5 while wearing white shorts, but winless in the navy.
Keen readers of this series will notice the team bucked this trend on Saturday, comfortably taking down the less-than-world-beating Kangaroos in Tassie, while donning navy shorts.
While the trend of only wearing home kits away, and away kits at home continued, the winless streak was broken.
What does it all mean?
It’s hard to say.
Originally published as WTF: Scary parks, roads that are dark, and still no navy shorts at Kardinia Park
Coroner probing deaths of Corio siblings in shed fire nightmare
A coroner is weighing up whether an inquest is required into the deaths of three young children in a suburban backyard a year on from the tragedy that rocked Geelong.
Stalked, chased by kids with knives: Residential worker’s hell
A Geelong woman who says a child punched her in the stomach and threatened to kill her unborn baby while she worked in residential care has launched legal action against her former employer.