Road to ruin

By Paul Dunlop
ELDERLY people are being targeted by asphaltpeddling artisans whose specialty is turning driveways into disaster.
Police on Monday issued an urgent warning for Pakenham district residents to be aware of socalled ‘gypsy’ tradesmen turning up on the doorstep with the offer of a cheap asphalt or seal.
The warning comes after an Officer couple were left to rue the day they agreed to have their driveway sealed by a group of tradesmen whose deal seemed too good refuse.
Just one week after the job was done, the asphalt has already broken up and crumbled and grass is poking through.
Residents in Beaconsfield, Berwick and Pakenham are also believed to have been approached by tradesmen demanding up to $20,000 for their shonky services.
Pakenham CIU Detective Sergeant Phil Jury said people should be extremely wary.
“People should always be suspicious when tradesmen just roll up on the doorstep,” Sgt Jury said.
“They will pick a property, especially if the residents are elderly, and say they have asphalt left over from a job down the road and offer to lay it at a cheap price on the driveway.
“It’s generally a very shoddy job, then they’ll say they need to get more asphalt and try to get money, usually thousands of dollars.”
The Officer couple, who were badly shaken by the experience and did not wish to be named, became suspicious to the scam and told family members who ordered the tradesmen off the property immediately.
News of the scam operating in the area has been met with dismay within the asphalt industry.
Kim McGill of R and C Asphalt Paving Pty Ltd said residents needed to be mindful that no legitimate contractors would cold call householders offering their services.
“These guys prey on elderly people, they give the impression that they can do them a favour,” Mr McGill said.
“They lay the asphalt straight on to the ground, they know the end result is going to be what it was with the situation at Officer.
“It happens here every couple of years, then they’ll move on to another area. But for people who they target, they’re left to pick up the pieces.” Mr McGill said driveways and other unsealed surfaces needed to be properly prepared before the asphalt was laid.
“These backyard boys lay it with shovels off the back of a truck. To do it properly it needs to be machinelaid,” he said.
The Australian Asphalt Pavement Association is also treating the issue seriously.
AAPA and Consumer Affairs Victoria officials will meet with industry representatives next week to discuss ways to deal with the problem.