SEEING the construction of the Scoresby Bypass gives rise to some thought on the subject of tolls.
I fail to see a single significant loser in the imposition of tolls on the new road.
The big winners if a toll is imposed are the vast majority of Victorians who will never use the bypass as they will not have to pay for upkeep or construction.
But if no tolls are imposed, that amount of bypass cost will have to be paid for from general revenue, thus reducing other services to all Victorians.
If a toll is imposed, commercial users will quickly figure out that paying the toll for a quicker, smoother transit is an economic benefit. Of course they don’t want a toll, as a freeway would be a greater economic benefit, but even with a toll they are still big winners.
If a toll is imposed, those who do not want to use the bypass will have a cleaner run on their existing route as the commercial traffic will be lighter. Time rich, money careful people such as retirees will choose this alternative and still have a quicker trip.
If a toll is imposed and the commercial through traffic takes that option, the residents and businesses along the existing routes will be advantaged. As will all of the eastwest traffic on roads that currently intersect with Springvale Road.
If a toll is imposed, many ordinary road users will make an informal cost/time/fuel benefit analysis and use the tollway anyway. It is almost a perfect “user pays and all benefit” situation with the imposition of a toll.
If the road is not tolled, the biggest winners are commercial operators who, ironically, are best able to pay the toll. The biggest losers in a notoll situation are Victorians who will never use the road.
So I fail to see the reasoning behind all of the eastern suburbs huffing and puffing about the nasty tolls.
The righteous indignation from the Opposition benches is a little more understandable given the political leanings of the users who will be by far the biggest winners if no tolls are imposed.
John Nieman
Monbulk
WITH the current high petrol prices, a certain fuelsaver is to drive slower than you’re used to doing. Let’s have a 60kmh speed limit in The Dandenongs so we can all enjoy the scenery and lower the road toll, then we can all be a revenue raiser. Slow down and enjoy!
Graeme Eadie
Emerald
TO the driver who hit my family’s beloved and absolutely irreplaceable dog on Glenfern Road on Thursday evening 25 August.
It would have made our loss a lot easier if you had at least stopped to see whether the dog had lived or died.
Fortunately, he was killed instantly.
It’s not nice to hit someone’s dog, but it’s also not nice to just keep driving as if nothing happened.
Chispa’s family
Upwey
THE newly elected Emerald Village Committee at its meeting in August was, like me, surprised to hear that for the last couple of years a team of four volunteers has met on a bimonthly basis to clean up the streets of Emerald.
One member has tackled Main Street by himself once a fortnight.
The team has never sought official or community recognition but now seeks help from other publicly spirited residents.
To his credit, Cardinia manager of governance and communications Doug Evans has provided safety vests at long last for these volunteers, hopefully extra vests will be provided if needed.
The group next meets at Worrell Reserve at 9am on 10 September and the clean up will conclude about 11am with a cuppa.
For details contact Rosemary on 5968 4070. It will also be a chance to meet members of the Village Committee.
John Dudley
Emerald
