WYNDHAM residents took to the street at the weekend, demanding the state government upgrade the municipality’s worst roads.
More than 60 people, including councillors and local MPs, descended on Cottrell Street on Sunday afternoon for a community rally aimed at highlighting the congestion on Wyndham’s roads.
Organiser Greg Byrne said the rally was aimed at driving home the message that residents expected to see significant funding for the city’s roads in the May budget.
Mr Byrne said residents from across the state attended the rally, with one couple travelling from Shepparton to support a Werribee family.
“[The couple] from Shepparton showed [our] roads don’t just affect local residents. They came to the rally because they have to use Ballan Road when they visit family in Werribee and they want to see it fixed,” he said.
“We need to keep the pressure on the government, VicRoads and local politicians.”
Mr Byrne, who has long campaigned for Ballan Road to be repaired and upgraded, said it remained his focus, but he would support other residents in their quest to have other roads improved.
Mayor Kim McAliney, who addressed the rally, said Wyndham could not continue to grow at its present rate without major investment in its roads.
“Residents are experiencing the frustration on a daily basis,” she said.
“The council is spending $44 million this year [on top of] $32 million last year and that doesn’t even scratch the surface on roads and maintenance.
“We need help from the government.”
