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‘We shouldn't have to live like this’

27/1/2022

5 Comments

 
PicturePhoto: Janice Hughes
By Jan Fleming
 
YESTERDAY I did something I never thought I would do: I had a real estate agent come round to give me an estimate on my house.
 
My partner John and I have had some very happy years here in Batman Street. Surf Beach is just down the road. We walk there every day with our greyhound Cash. We have good neighbours. There is a real sense of community. I thought this was my forever house.
 
Everything changed just before Christmas when the council removed the dust suppressant from our street.

​It was always a busy street because it leads straight to Surfies Point. There is heavy traffic most of the time because the tradies can pull up at the car park and check out the surf without even getting out of their utes. It’s a narrow road, with ditches either side, and they drive too fast, but we could live with it. Until now.

Now the dust is so bad I have to hose every day, including the solar panels, the car windows and the garden, which is suffering badly.
 
We have to keep the doors and windows shut, and even then the dust comes into the house. I constantly have sore eyes. John is an artist and usually paints in the carport, but that’s now impossible because the dust fills the air and covers everything.
 
This week the council installed temporary signs in Batman Street, as they did in the other unsealed roads around the Esplanade. I understand they’ve helped in some streets – but they’ve made no difference here. I don’t think the tradies even see them. They’re too intent on getting to the surf.
 
The road is dangerous for walkers, cyclists, and those pushing prams. There is no footpath and it’s impossible to jump the deep drains onto the nature strip. My neighbour left his vehicle out to try to slow the traffic and it made no difference,
 
We are told we may have to wait four years for the road to be sealed. John is 86. I’m 76. I will be 80 by the time the road is sealed. We should not have to live like this in the meantime.
 
Please, council, replace the dust suppressant on our road in the meantime and do something to slow the traffic.
 
Batman Street residents have petitioned the council for urgent measures to calm traffic and reduce the dust.
5 Comments
Pauline Amon
28/1/2022 12:17:30 pm

Excellent article Jan, agree entirely, the dust on the Esplanade Surf Beach is health threatening as well as damaging houses and furnishings. If the windows are left open everything is covered in dust. Our house is designed to be environmentally responsible and we have no airconditioning but rely on clever design to cool the building with cross through ventilation. The resulting dust negates this. We need the dust suppressant back on our roads.

Reply
Lou Pecora
28/1/2022 12:19:20 pm

The new signs have made a difference to the number of drivers who are travelling at the lower speed and consequently have significantly reduced the dust problem. However, it is beyond my comprehesion how selfish and inconsiderate so many drivers are, who arrogantly ignore the signs and make life for residents and pedestrians unbearable. This thoughtless behaviour undoes the goodwill of the majority of drivers who are doing the right thing.

Lou Pecora
Surf Beach

Reply
Janet Fleming
28/1/2022 04:06:00 pm

Thanks Pauline, I am sorry you have to put up with the dust as well.
So much for the lovely area we live in. A bit of respite today with the rain.

Reply
Bernie Mccomb
28/1/2022 08:42:12 pm

Sounds like a few speed bumps could be useful. Probably easier with inverted bumps, otherwise known as trenches, only modest, obviously.

Reply
Sue Saliba
1/2/2022 09:03:35 am

I'm so sorry to hear this, Jan. What a loss for the community it would be if you and John were to leave. I hope measures will be taken by Council to solve this problem.

Reply



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