By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A Monbulk resident is calling for urgent action to address what she describes as a “hazardous” stretch of road that has become increasingly dangerous for locals, tourists, cyclists, and drivers alike.
Leharna Black has spent years trying to raise awareness of the dangers on Olinda-Monbulk Road, and despite multiple complaints to relevant authorities, she said little has been done to address the serious safety concerns.
The road, which runs down the steep eastern escarpment of Mount Dandenong, is narrow, winding, and lined with dense vegetation – there are no footpaths or verges, and drivers frequently have to navigate sharp bends and hidden driveways.
The speed limit on the road is 60 km/h, but Ms Black said many drivers often travel at speeds of 70 to 80 km/h, making it even more dangerous.
The road is also a popular route for cyclists, with many using it each weekend, often with little space to pass other vehicles safely – Ms Black, who has lived in the area for five years, said the situation has grown progressively worse over time.
“The road is dangerous enough, but when you add the cyclists, the buses, the heavy vehicles, and the constant stream of visitors unfamiliar with the road, it’s a recipe for disaster,” Ms Black said.
“It’s only a matter of time before there’s a fatality—whether it’s a cyclist, a driver, or a pedestrian. It’s terrifying.”
The situation came to a head in February when Ms Black’s elderly guests were involved in a serious accident right outside her property.
Both cars were written off, and the elderly couple was hospitalised. The road was closed for hours as emergency services worked at the scene.
She said the crash, which could have been much worse, was the wake-up call she needed to push even harder for change.
Since the incident, the Monbulk resident has been in frequent contact with the responsible authorities, including Transport Victoria, asking for improvements such as better foliage management, speed control measures, and safety features like convex mirrors to help with visibility.
Despite being told an engineer would assess the road and action would be taken urgently, she said nothing has been done so far. She’s followed up multiple times, but has received little more than generic responses, with no clear timeline for when changes will be made.
“I’ve been told it’s ‘in progress,’ but it’s been over six weeks, and there’s been no real action,” she said.
“I’ve reached out to our local MP, Daniela De Martino, and they confirmed that the matter has been forwarded to the Minister’s office. But still, nothing has happened. It’s incredibly frustrating.”
Daniela De Martino’s office has confirmed that the issue raised with her has been forwarded to the Minister’s office.
Ms Black said the visibility issues are a daily struggle for residents, particularly when exiting their driveways. With dense vegetation blocking the view, she has had to edge out into the road to see oncoming traffic, putting her at risk every time she leaves her property.
“I have to creep forward into the road just to see what’s coming. But even then, I can’t see the top of the hill, and I’ve had multiple near-misses with drivers who are travelling too fast – it’s not just frustrating; it’s frightening,” she said.
Her concerns are not just about her own safety, but the safety of others, particularly cyclists, who have little room to move when cars pass them.
“The cyclists can’t move off the road, and when drivers try to overtake, they often can’t see what’s coming the other way. We’ve had so many close calls. It’s a miracle that no one’s been killed yet,” she said.
Despite numerous requests to VicRoads for regular foliage maintenance, Ms Black said the response has been inadequate, with maintenance often taking months to be carried out.
Even after the serious accident back in February, she has seen no meaningful improvements.
“The system is broken. I feel like I’m chasing my tail. I can’t be responsible for making sure the roads are safe every year,” she said.
Moving forward, Ms Black urges the government to take immediate action to address the road’s dangers.
“Risk-taking behaviour on our roads is unacceptable and our thoughts are with everyone caught up in the serious accident in February,” the Department of Transport and Planning Spokesperson said.
“Our crews inspect Olinda-Monbulk Road weekly to identify any safety hazards.”
She has called for an engineering assessment of the road, considering factors like the steep incline, the risk of speeding, and the visibility issues caused by the vegetation, she’s also advocating for the installation of convex mirrors at key driveways, speed-dampening measures, and better stormwater management.
“It’s just too dangerous, we can’t wait until someone is killed. The authorities need to act now, before it’s too late,” she said.
