By JESSE GRAHAM
YOUNG drivers will have to travel into Mooroolbark for their licence testing from the end of June, after VicRoads announced it was pulling out of Yarra Ranges Council community links.
On Wednesday 4 May, VicRoads and the council announced that community links in Healesville, Yarra Junction and Monbulk would not provide VicRoads services after 30 June.
VicRoads acting director of registration and licensing services Serge Zandegu said that more places had been added to their Licence Testing Centre in Mooroolbark – roughly half an hour’s drive from Healesville – to accommodate drivers from the valley and hills.
Getting to the testing centre will require people without a licence to catch a bus up the Warburton or Maroondah Highway, catch a city-bound train to Mooroolbark, then walk to the centre – or hitch a ride with someone who can drive.
Those who need to use other services of VicRoads will have to travel to Burwood East, Dandenong or Heatherton – with a minimum travel time of 53 minutes each way from Healesville – or do so online.
Yarra Ranges councillor Fiona McAllister said that the presence of VicRoads in the council’s link buildings left council out of pocket – but that cutting the services “wasn’t an easy decision to make”.
“Ultimately, it’s a VicRoads service, so it puts us in a difficult situation – we don’t want to create a situation where people have to travel further, or there are costs or inconvenience, but, by the same token, it’s a VicRoads service, not a council service,” she said.
“When the service review came up, and we realised the financial situation it was going to create, the decision was made.
“It’s not ideal at all – I would have hoped there would have been a way that they could continue their service.”
Council director of corporate services Troy Edwards said that it was “no longer financially viable” for council to provide services on behalf of VicRoads.
Healesville Driving School’s Lisa Barber and Graham Bolton said the change would cost young drivers and their families in the Yarra Ranges and Murrindindi council areas more time and money.
“I have quite a few (students) coming from as far away as Alexandra, Buxton, Narbethong and Marysville – it will affect them as well, because we are their closest office,” Ms Barber said.
She said the drive test would also be more difficult for young drivers than in the valley, with the Mooroolbark test taking in the Five Ways roundabouts, as well as lane changes and merging.
“For me to bring up somebody for the test-related criteria that is specific for Mooroolbark, we have to drive there – so it’s going to take more lessons and longer drives,” she said.
“Those that are living in the Yarra Ranges are disadvantaged by having to move to Mooroolbark.”
Mr Zandegu said VicRoads would “continue to work with the affected communities to ensure they have access to key services, including online, by person and in person at alternative customer service centres”.
“VicRoads has been working closely with Yarra Ranges Shire to minimise impacts to the community as a result of the closure,” he said.
Despite temporarily suspending licence testing in Healesville in April, Mr Zandegu said drive test appointments would be available in all three community links until 30 June.
The Mail contacted Yarra Ranges Council to ask how much hosting VicRoads in its community link buildings cost the organisation annually, but did not receive a response before deadline.
