Wyndham councillors have reacted with anger and frustration to the council’s 2014 traffic report, which found 21 of the city’s main roads were at or over-capacity.
Harrison ward’s Bob Fairclough said the findings, presented to councillors at last Monday’s meeting, were more than just “a set of numbers”.
“This is an issue which is impacting on the quality of life and well-being of our residents every day,” he said. “It’s unacceptable … as a community we’ve had enough.”
Iramoo ward councillor Heather Marcus echoed Cr Fairclough’s sentiments.
“We’re tired of dealing with congestion on our roads,” she said.
“I’ve heard from people who have taken half an hour to travel from Werribee to Hoppers Crossing.
“It’s time we stood up and fought harder because we have to get governments to listen.
“Companies don’t want to set up here because of the situation with our traffic. Perhaps we need to start voting one street Labor and one street Liberal, so this area becomes marginal.”
The council has committed $2 million over two years to its Get Wyndham Moving campaign, which aims to secure funding commitments from state and federal governments to address traffic congestion, with duplications of Dohertys, Palmers, Derrimut and Sayers roads and the Leakes and Palmers roads intersection among its top priorities.
This story first appeared in Wyndham Star Weekly.
