Smythes Creek residents say it is only a matter of time before someone is killed at the corner of Cherry Flat Road and Bells Road.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Long held concerns have come to light as five people were injured on Tuesday evening in a multi-car collision.
A teenager was flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a serious but stable condition as a result of the collision, while three people were transported to Ballarat Base Hospital and another was assessed at the scene.
Smythes Creek resident Jo-anne Simon said since the Delacombe Town Centre construction, the road and particularly the intersection had become treacherous.
“It’s the development and people use it as a through way,” she said. “And with Bunnings coming in, it’s only going to get worse, it’s shocking.
“Just today, I’ve almost had two accidents. It’s not as if you can’t see, I’ve lived out here 15 years, people just refuse to give way. At the very least they need a stop sign, otherwise people just turn in front, they don’t realise cars are doing 100km/h.
“My husband and son were out last night and I had to call him to see if they were alright, fortunately it wasn’t them, but it’s only a matter of time before someone will get killed.”
Ms Simon said one of the biggest concerns for residents was that Cherry Flat Road is controlled by the City of Ballarat, while Bells Road is a Golden Plains Shire road.
Bells road has also been earmarked as part of the proposed Ballarat Link Road in the City of Ballarat’s Precinct Structure Plan for Ballarat West which was released in October 2016.
The report says: “The ultimate road design will be two lanes in each direction between the Western Freeway and Glenelg Highway, one lane in each direction between Glenelg Highway and Cherry Flat Road, and either one or two lanes from there to the Midland Highway, depending on future traffic volumes. Service lanes may also be provided by developers.”
A City of Ballarat spokesperson said possible speed reductions on Bells Road lay in the hands of Golden Plains Shire, but any municipal road speed change needed approval from VicRoads.
Golden Plains Shire was contacted for comments but was unable to respond before deadline
When contacted, VicRoads directed The Courier’s questions to the council and shire.
