‘Playing with life’: Is Wingeel Rd the Geelong region’s worst road?

Golden Plains residents are calling for urgent repairs on a back road that has “craters” large enough to park a car in, as council gives a timeline for the potential fix.

Wingeel Rd in Golden Plains Shire has been in a "troublesome" state for many years, but became worse after the October/November flood events. Picture: Supplied

Firefighters are calling for urgent repairs to a severely damaged road in Golden Plains Shire, saying if nothing is done it “could kill someone”.

Tracey Shaw said the state of Wingeel Rd, which runs across the Hamilton Hwy, has been “troublesome” for at least five years.

Residents estimated there were at least 30 holes along the 1km stretch of road.

Ms Shaw, a volunteer firefighter, said most of the road has been eroded away, especially following the October and November flood events that hit the region.

It was a road of concern well before those floods, though, with a local farmer begging the council to repair the road after a pothole incident in 2020.

Ms Shaw said it was likely only a matter of time before a devastating accident happened.

Ms Shaw said people drove on the shoulder of the road because it was in better condition than the actual paved surface. Picture: Supplied

“Someone who doesn’t know the road will drive down there and … it could kill someone,” she said.

“We lost someone local not too long ago, we know how much it hurts.

“The whole area that’s troublesome need to be dug up and replaced.

“I have said there’s blood on (council’s) hands, it’s a litigation waiting to happen.”

Fellow member of the local fire brigade and former captain, Simon Bogie, said he had major safety concerns about the road.

He said it was “highly likely” that there would be a fatal incident if the damage wasn’t addressed.

“We’ve been fighting for (repairs) for years,” Mr Bogie said.

“It’s a main area for our firetruck. It becomes a safety issue for the surrounding area.

“You’re playing with someone’s life at that point.”

Mr Bogie said there had been a lack of communication and little apparent interest in the issue from council.

Residents drive on the shoulder of the road instead of the pavement, they said. Picture: Supplied

Ms Shaw said despite yearly efforts to communicate her concerns to council, along with many other residents, there were only two “slow down” signs erected along the stretch of road.

She said heavy vehicles, including trucks, used the road frequently.

A Golden Plains Shire Council spokesperson said contractors were due to commence major repair works on Wingeel Rd between the Hamilton Highway and railway line in April.

“Heavy vehicle uses and agriculture use of this road as a detour following the recent flood events have also increased damage to roadways,” they said.

“In addition to the works … repairs of edge breaks and pothole patching works in the area will also be undertaken.

“We are responding to all requests for road works, however, roads will continue to be repaired on a priority basis based on traffic volume and road usage.”

The spokesperson said council had applied for state government funding to support road works.

A Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts spokesperson said the government had already invested $291,495 under its Roads to Recovery Program to “fully fund critical upgrades” on Wingeel Rd between the Hamilton Hwy to just before Cressy-Shelford Rd.

They said road sealing and re-sheeting to address concerns “such as edge breaks and potholes” were underway and expected to be complete by June this year.

Originally published as ‘Playing with life’: Is Wingeel Rd the Geelong region’s worst road?