Nerrina resident Mel Hansen-Fic is worried about speeding motorists along Nerrina Road where ducks are crossing frequently. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
MEL Hansen-Fic has seen cars speed past her Nerrina Road home for three years.
But when one motorist struck and killed a duck out the front of her Nerrina house, she decided it was time to start a campaign.
With a duck pond on the other side of the road from her family home, Mrs Hansen-Fic often sees up to a dozen ducks crossing the road and nestling on her front lawn.
There have even been times when she has stopped traffic to allow the ducks to safely cross the road.
But when one of the ducks was hit by a car last week and left dead on the road, she decided something had to be done.
Although there are signs on Nerrina Road warning drivers to be wary of ducks, Mrs Hansen-Fic says few drivers take any notice.
“It’s riled me quite a few times. People just fly up and down the road and it is becoming busier and busier,” she said.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen and when I saw the duck lying on the road I thought it was time for action.
“Whatever has been done with the signs warning people about the ducks just isn’t working.”
With a 10-year-old son who often plays in the front yard, Mrs Hansen-Fic said there had to be quick action taken.
She said Ballarat City Council needed to install speed humps or road chicanes that forced drivers to reduce their speed on the 60 km/h stretch.
“I’m sure there have been other ones (ducks) that have been hit that I don’t know about or haven’t seen,” she said.
“A duck is pretty much impossible not to see so either people are going way too fast to avoid them or they are hitting them on purpose.”
Mrs Hansen-Fic said she planned to send a letter to the council to voice her concerns and would pursue any option possible in order to see some action taken.
