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Tuesday, 8 July, 2025

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Second fire tragedy

Pool works begin

Sandown opening revisited

Thunder draw rued

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Danger corner Residents are appalled by the removal of bollards protecting their home from the regularly wayward trucks crashing at a funded ‘black spot’ intersection at Browns Road in Noble Park. Four bollards on a nature strip were removed by the City of Greater Dandenong after one of them was damaged by a heavy vehicle mounting the kerb. The council says it’s consulting with residents over safety improvement options in the area. Pat Jordan and Judi have lived 50 years adjacent to the roundabout that hosts large semi-trailers from a nearby industrial estate. One of their bedrooms faces the street corner just 30 metres away without any protection. Mr Jordan says the roundabout can’t cater for large vehicles. Unless they put the bollard back, “nothing’s going to work.” “I’m not asking for gold-plated ones, I’m just asking them to replace what’s already there. “The council put in the ones that were pulled out of the ground. They’ve been there for a number of years, they’ve stopped cars and trucks.” He recalls one breakfast time when there

was a “mighty bang” of a delivery van ploughing through his brick wall fence. The issue was brought to a council meeting on Monday 23 June by councillor Lana Formoso, who questioned why the bollards were removed. Council’s executive director city futures Sanjay Manivasagasivam responded, saying the installation of concrete bollards was illegal – in which case council can be held liable “if something happens.” He says there are opportunities to amend the type of bollard used at the site alongside other minor works at the roundabout to improve road safety. As part of Federal Blackspot Program funding, council installed a number of traffic calming treatments on Browns Road last year which reduced traffic speeds. Council has also unsuccessfully imposed a truck curfew previously from 8pm to 6am. Cr Formoso pointed out that is not being implemented as “no one is enforcing it.”

Parent power is key Gizem, Dajana and Shaza are part of an Oz Child team who work with serious teenage offenders and their families across the South East. Their Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program has had stunning success in empower-

ing parents to take charge and for young people to get back on track. For more on the story, turn to page 4