Lifesaving lines

By Casey Neill
A SAFETY shake-up on a deadly hills thoroughfare will save lives.
This was the message last week from a relieved Wandin Fire Brigade captain, Peter Polovinka, after the State Government announced it would improve “the worst intersection in Wandin” – the Wellington and Clegg roads junction.
“I’m very, very pleased,” he said.
“I just don’t want to cut another body out of a car there.”
The State Government will improve signage, line marking and street lighting and install rumble strips at the intersection.
A spokeswoman for Roads Minister Tim Pallas said the works would be completed by the end of October.
“I can also confirm that the white stop lines have been reinstated at this intersection by Yarra Ranges Council,” she said.
Mr Polovinka has attended dozens of accidents at the intersection, including several fatal crashes and people trapped in vehicles.
“It’s the worst intersection in Wandin,” he said.
“I’d rather our rescue truck stay in our station.”
He said many Wellington Road motorists were unable to see the stop sign and white lines at the intersection with Clegg Road.
“I use that intersection as well. I’ve seen a few near-misses,” he said.
A truck one day drove straight across Clegg Road in front of Mr Polovinka, narrowly missing his vehicle.
“The truck driver pulled over on Wellington Road and couldn’t believe what he’d done,” he said.
“It’s going to save lives.”
Mr Polovinka had been fighting for safety improvements at the site for the past year and a half, but said the issue had been escalating for many years.
“I honestly thought we weren’t going to get anywhere,” he said. He thanked Liberal Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe for her contribution to the fight.
“She’s saved lives and prevented serious injuries,” he said.
Mrs Fyffe wrote letters to Mr Pallas and raised the issue in Parliament, but said the outcome was “a community victory”.
“People power really does work,” she said.
“Give a person a pen and they can move the earth with it.”
Mrs Fyffe said non-locals and tourists who were unfamiliar with the intersection often assumed Wellington Road was a continuous road they could drive straight through. “The incidence of accidents is increasing each year,” she said.
“Locals know from experience to perform double and sometimes even triple checks before crossing Clegg Road.”
Wellington Road is the main connecting road from the Yarra Valley to Mount Evelyn and beyond.
Mrs Fyffe said many tourists also used the road to reach historic attraction Mont De Lancey, lavender farms, native gardens and farm gate sales.
She said trucks also used Wellington Road to go to packing sheds to pick up seasonally available produce.