By Tyler Wright
On Thursday 2 March, Kallista residents came together to discuss funding solutions to seal dirt roads in the area, after it was announced more than $100 million would be cut from the local Roads for the Community program in January.
Kallista resident and local flood watch group member Karen Kestigian said some 50 people met at the Kallista Tea Rooms to discuss funding sources for road sealing with Casey MP Aaron Violi, Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino and Lyster Ward councillor Johanna Skelton.
“They all got the understanding that those roads are in a very desperate state,” Ms Kestigian said.
Gleghorn Road was one of the roads set to be sealed under the Roads for the Community program, with the Star Mail previously reporting Yarra Ranges Council would only receive $47.7 million of the original $150 million promised by the Federal liberal government in 2019 after funding was cut in the Federal government’s October budget.
“The surface of [Gleghorn] road has been very much disturbed by the sewerage works…even when they regrade it and then they put gravel on it, once we get a heavy downpour, all of that washes away,” Ms Kestigian said.
“It’s getting desperate… if we get a serious deluge, as has happened previously, the water coming down from Baringa [Avenue], Norton [Road], St James [Avenue] is just going to make that surface even worse.”
Mr Violi said the Kallista township experiences “devasting flooding caused by unsealed roads and drainage problems”.
“Not only are the unsealed roads a safety hazard for residents and tourists, the stormwater run-off is polluting local creeks,” he said.
“The Kallista residents should not have to stress about sandbagging or having damaged homes every time we get a downpour. The Albanese Government need to understand the importance of road sealing to our communities.”
Mr Violi also said it was “great to see such a large turnout of so many community-minded residents from the Hills who are fighting for improvements to local roads and drains”.
“I will continue to work with the Kallista Flood Watch Group as we fight to get this funding reinstated so we can get these dangerous roads sealed,” he said.
