Drainage danger

By Tania Martin
AN EMERALD resident last week blamed a motorcycle accident on inadequate drainage along Emerald-Monbulk Road.
Residents say that after heavy rainfalls, the drainage causes stones from nearby unfinished roads to spread across the Emerald-Monbulk Road, near Butterfield Road in Emerald, causing hazards for passing motorcyclists.
Shortly after 4pm on Monday, 20 March, a motorcyclist sustained head injuries after falling off his bike.
Senior Sergeant Doug Berglund, of Belgrave police, said the accident occurred after two motorcyclists rounded a bend on Emerald-Monbulk Road and hit a pile of gravel and one of the riders lost control.
A Metropolitan Ambulance spokesman said the 60-year-old man was unconscious with head injuries when the ambulance arrived and was treated by paramedics before being transported to Worrell Reserve where he was taken by air ambulance to the Alfred Hospital.
An Alfred Hospital spokesman said the man was in a serious but stable condition.
Resident Sam Murphy said this was the third accident in the past two months and that something needed to be done about the damaged drainage system.
Ms Murphy said although there had been several incidences, they had not been reported to police because unlike last week’s accident, the motorcyclists had not been seriously hurt.
Motorcyclist Andre Kowalczuk said he and a friend were riding along Emerald-Monbulk Road on 14 February when they experienced a similar accident.
Mr Kowalczuk said he swerved around gravel on the road, but his friend fell off his bike.
“We were taking it easy and doing less than 50 km/h and still my friend came off his bike,” he said.
Sergeant Chris Vincent, from Emerald police, has encouraged residents to call the council when they see gravel on the road to have it cleared away.
Sgt Vincent said when there are heavy downpours of rain, the drains caused the gravel to wash across the road.
Shire of Yarra Ranges community relations officer, Simone Ryan, said Emerald-Monbulk Road is not a council road and she could not comment on the condition of the drainage.
But Ms Ryan said the council records reports of gravel on roads and if it is not a council road, the issue is reported to VicRoads.
A VicRoads spokeswoman said VicRoads was unable to comment on the drainage in Emerald-Monbulk Road until an assessment had been undertaken.
Sgt Vincent said two hours later, Emerald police were travelling along Emerald-Monbulk Road near the scene of the accident when they were flagged down by a motorist.
He said the motorist was concerned about another car that was travelling towards Emerald.
Police intercepted the driver who recorded an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.259.
Sgt Vincent said the man would be charged on summons with serious drink-driving offences.