By EMMA SUN
Woman alleges VicRoads plunders…
A WOMAN says she’s been “robbed” by VicRoads, after it charged her almost $7000 to redraw a turning lane on the main street just to run a market.
Natalie Demarco, who is running a Trash 2 Treasure market every Sunday from this week at the Lilydale train station carpark, said VicRoads objected to her planning application to Yarra Ranges Council, arguing the market would have an impact on traffic.
She said VicRoads agreed it would withdraw its objection if lines and arrows were drawn to make part of the main road a right turning lane into the carpark on the opposite side of the train tracks.
While Ms Demarco has paid for the works to be done, she said nothing had started.
Instead, traffic cameras were installed at the lights just before the tracks.
“They have to waterblast the paint off where the lines are, there’s no road widening and they are going to create a right turning lane with a few white lines and a white arrow that turns right into the slip road so they can access the car park,” she said.
“I understand maybe it would’ve caused traffic impact if that lane wasn’t there, but seven grand for a turning lane and I was only allowed to use their contactors, I wasn’t allowed to use someone else that wasn’t VicRoads certified, it seems like jobs for the boys to me.
“All of a sudden, these traffic cameras have been erected right opposite (where) the market is going to be, yet the turning lane hasn’t been done, it all seems a bit suss to me, I feel like they’ve charged me for speed cameras.”
But VicRoads regional director Adam Maguire said they provided Ms Demarco with options for the work to be carried out, and they agreed to the option of VicRoads preparing a layout plan and engaging a contractor to carry out the work at a total cost of $6912.
He said the payment had nothing to do with traffic cameras.
“Once the pre-payment was received, VicRoads began the layout plan, which is now complete,” he said.
“The linemarking contractor has confirmed the project will be completed next week, weather permitting.
“VicRoads can confirm that the payment of $6912 is for the costs involved to install the right-turn only, including planning, design, surveillance, traffic management and linemarking, as per the agreed plan, and does not include any other road projects.”
Ms Demarco said she was disappointed with VicRoads.
She said she felt she was taken advantage of, and hoped other businesspeople wouldn’t have the same troubles in the future.
“I feel a bit robbed, I want VicRoads not to get into the way of companies trying to do something that will boost the local area, which will help out local traders,” she said.
“For them to constantly try to cash in on businesses growing, that’s what’s wrong with the economy, they make it so hard for everyone, they need to realise that they can’t do this.
“Some people could be doing this businesses venture, paid all this money and all of a sudden, a year and a half out, it’s all gone through planning, and the local council were more than happy to go ahead with it, they come in and go no, we want seven grand to do this.
“Some companies wouldn’t have survived that – this market is my personal venture, I’m not some big corporate company with a lot of cash behind me and it’s extremely disappointing, I’m just glad I was able to cover it, otherwise it could’ve ruined me.”
The Trash 2 Treasure market will go from 8am to 2pm every Sunday. For more information, call 0431 727 079.
