Traffic and fire safety top Warrandyte state election issues

TRAFFIC and safety issues during fire season are topping the state election candidates’ pledges in the seat of Warrandyte.

Traffic problems in bush fire risk areas. Traffic builds up on school mornings on the Research- Warrandyte Road, as cars make their way onto the Warrandyte - Kangaroo Ground Road to cross over the Yarra River at Warrandyte bridge. Some mornings the traffic on the Research - Warrandyte Road is 800 meters long.

TRAFFIC and safety issues during fire season are topping the state election candidates’ pledges in the seat of Warrandyte.

Warrandyte state Liberal MP Ryan Smith said the State Government’s recently announced short-term measures to ensure better traffic management in a fire or emergency would improve congestion issues at Warrandyte’s Yarra St bridge.

Mr Smith said the solution was part of a longer term review.

“There’s more to the issue about fire safety than simply the bridge,” Mr Smith said.

“I have been the member through the Black Saturday fires and more recent fires earlier this year.

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“There hadn’t been enough planned burning, and we have done that since we have come in to government, and ensured that in the state forest, which surrounds residential areas, has got to a position where there is low fuel loads.”

Mr Smith said the Warrandyte police station was “adequately resourced”.

“Since we have come to government, we have brought it 1800 new police,” Mr Smith said.

“There’s more to the issue about fire safety than simply the bridge,” Ryan Smith, Warrandyte state Liberal MP

Labor candidate Steven Kent said he would include relevant parties to find better solutions for Warrandyte during fire season, if elected.

“We’ve got the current sitting member who sat on his hands for a long period of time,” Mr Kent said.

“I’m not an engineer so we need the appropriate bodies in place.”

Traffic along narrow roads such as Research-Warrandyte Rd is a big issue.

Mr Kent said he had Opposition Roads spokesman Luke Donnellan visit Warrandyte a few months ago to look at the details.

Victorian Greens candidate Richard Cranston said a second bridge at Warrandyte would not solve the problem because the road network was riddled with narrow roads and a high traffic volume.

“Doncaster Rail and good bus services that interconnect and integrate ... that is what we would like to see,” Mr Cranston said.

He said the Greens would support a “well resourced police force”.

“Doncaster Rail and good bus services that interconnect and integrate ... that is what we would like to see,” Richard Cranston, Warrandyte state Greens candidate

Australian Christians candidate David Leach failed to name the Victorian Treasurer (Michael O’Brien) and said a strong community where people felt safe was key.

When asked to address the low police resources in Warrandyte and surrounding areas, Mr Leach said his party leader had “not really equipped” him for the questions asked by the Manningham Leader.

“Look, I’m in so far deep over my head, I’ve had no preparation for these kinds of questions,” Mr Leach said.

“I’m going to have to call party leaders.”