East Ivanhoe residents along the Boulevard slam developments to beloved road

Contrary to other local road disputes these Melbourne residents are fighting to block their council from fixing a beloved bumpy road.

(Left to Right) East Ivanhoe residents Ros Black, Frances Gentle, David Gentle, Sue Dawson and are against Banyule Council's plan to resurface a 2.8km stretch of the Boulevard. Picture: Athos Sirianos

Furious residents in Melbourne’s northeast are fighting to keep a cherished road from being upgraded, fearing an influx of rat-runners escaping busy main roads will “destroy” the area’s rural character.

It comes as Banyule City Council — which encompasses suburbs like Ivanhoe, Eaglemont and Viewbank — proposed to resurface nearly 3km of the Boulevard between Banksia St, Heidelberg and Burke Rd North, Ivanhoe East to “improve the surface quality and make it safer”.

Residents along the Boulevard in East Ivanhoe say upgrades to the road would increase traffic and ruin the area's character. Picture: Banyule Council

But locals along the bumpy road — which is near Lower Heidelberg Rd and mainly used by walkers and cyclists — are opposed to the project, fearing development would attract hoons and scare off wildlife in the adjacent parkland.

Resident David Gentle said any resurfacing would be a “magnet for traffic”, with commuters heading towards the city using the street as a shortcut.

“By sealing it we’d have thousands of cars every day,” he said.

“It’s a very special place that we don’t want wrecked because it’s our home.

“In a way nature has created all the road humps you could ever want here.”

(Left to Right) East Ivanhoe residents Tony Cerra, Sue Dawson, David Gentle, Frances Gentle and Ros Black are against Banyule Council's plan to resurface a 2.8km stretch of the Boulevard. Picture: Athos Sirianos

Mr Gentle said residents would prefer for the potholes to be patched up rather than the whole road resurfaced.

“They should do what they’ve done for the last 30 years and just do lots of little patches to fix the potholes which would work just as well,” he said.

Fellow resident Sue Dawson said the “increased traffic and potential for accidents” was worrying.

Frances Gentle said the council’s proposal to fix the road would deprive the community of a “wonderful place”.

“You see parents walking with their children or kids going for bike rides ... there’s also that loss of family life that needs to be considered,” she said.

“With high speed cars heading for the city we won’t be able to use the road like we have.”

David Gentle says resurfacing the Boulevard at East Ivanhoe would "destroy" the street's character. Picture: Athos Sirianos

An online petition against the council’s proposal had so far received nearly 700 signatures.

“It is loved for its rural character, its vistas, its wildlife including its mob of Kangaroos and its vegetation. The existing road is a key part of this character,” the petition says.

A community information session was held last Thursday, with residents also able to provide feedback on the council website until April 22.

Residents along the Boulevard in East Ivanhoe say upgrades to the road would increase traffic and ruin the area's character. Picture: Supplied

A council report of the road observed it was in “poor condition”, had a lack of paths and that its angles encouraged “high speeds” for drivers.

A council analysis found that on average there were about 200 cars a day that travelled along the road.

A response to a FAQ on the council website about increased traffic said that “to address these concerns, traffic filters and traffic calming measures are proposed to reduce through-traffic and discourage speeding.”

Council also said that “no significant vegetation removal is planned and measures will be taken to ensure that wildlife corridors remain intact”.

A Banyule Council spokesman said that while “no decisions have been made” the proposal would aim to improve safety while “maintaining (the road’s) rural character”.

“The existing road has not been fully resurfaced in recent years and is showing significant signs of wear, including cracking, potholes, edge breaks, drop-offs, wheel ruts and corrugations. These defects pose risks to all users and create challenges for ongoing maintenance,” he said,

“Council acknowledges community concerns around traffic and safety and is working closely with residents to understand those concerns and identify appropriate solutions. With the proposed traffic treatments in place, it is hoped that overall traffic volumes will remain low.

“Encouraging safe walking and cycling is a key goal of the project, with potential connections to the Main Yarra Trail and improvements to nearby roads like Gruyere Crescent also under consideration.

“Concerns about changes to the character of the street have also been raised. Council does not believe maintaining the road’s current surface character and low-key appearance will detract from its charm.”