Emergency services are struggling to get through traffic-clogged single-lane roads to access Wyndham suburbs and estates.
Wyndham councillor Michele Wharrie said police, paramedics and firefighters were having trouble getting into some areas and estates in Wyndham.
Access issues particularly affect new areas around Truganina, Williams Landing, Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Cr Wharrie said main roads feeding into these areas – including Sayers, Leakes and Ballan roads – were single-lane and particularly difficult to navigate during peak hour, leading to blow-out response times.
“These roads are single lane and they’re choc-a-block,” she said. “There’s a risk that if the emergency vehicles drive along the shoulders of roads they’ll get bogged or hit rocks, or whatever. This is a developmental issue that is really putting people’s lives at risk.
“Even if police take the call, they can’t get through that traffic the way the roads are, and it’s going to extend response times significantly.
“To get to the Allura estate [in Truganina] would take a good 15 minutes under normal circumstances. During peak hour, you’re looking at 20 to 25 minutes, at least.”
Lachlan Redman, operations officer with the Hoppers Crossing Country Fire Authority, said he wanted many Wyndham roads duplicated to reduce car accidents and help emergency services reach call-outs as quickly as possible.
Mr Redman said Derrimut and Sayers roads, in particular, and the north end of Tarneit Road, were problem zones for CFA volunteers, with Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes among the most difficult areas to reach.
He said Werribee Street and Hoppers Crossing level crossings were also hard to navigate, and morning and afternoon peaks could easily add another minute or two to response times.
“With a house fire, that could potentially mean life or death” Mr Redman said.
“The volume of traffic we’re contending with is difficult.”
Ambulance Victoria acting group manager Michael Georgiou said paramedics could encounter different types of access challenges when attending call-outs, and were trained to respond safely and appropriately.
Wyndham police’s Inspector Frank Sells said when call-outs occurred, the nearest available police unit was dispatched.
“This is no different to other densely populated areas across the state,” Inspector Sells said.
