Volume rises over noise barriers

By Jim Mynard
BEACONSFIELD residents have called on the Federal Government to intervene over the failure of successive State Governments to provide noise barriers on the Monash Freeway in the Soldiers Road area.
Beaconsfield in Casey Residents Action Group (BICRAG) spokesman Ray Fleming said no commitment had been made to have the noise barriers installed.
He said newly elected Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley said she would pursue the matter.
“But because of our residents’ desperate need, BICRAG had decided to seek assistance from La Trobe MP Jason Wood.
“Mr Wood has copies of all our correspondence and media articles since our campaign began.
“We hope he will put our case for barrier funding from the Federal Government to the Minister for Transport.
“We hope he is successful because barriers would release residents from the misery of having to put up with extreme noise nearly 24 hours a day.
“We have also noticed an increase in the dangerous practice of pedestrians crossing the freeway,” he said.
Ms Graley said she expected to discuss the issue with Mr Wood and Mr Wood agreed that he had a short talk with the State MP.
He said the matter was totally a State Government issue but he would take the issue to the Federal Government and hoped to speak in parliament to raise the stakes on the need for walls on the freeway.
“I look forward to working with Ms Graley and hope we can get a satisfactory outcome.
“The problem is that other areas are being prioritised and residents are totally frustrated.
“Governments must work with the residents on this because they have suffered for long enough,” he said.