For almost three years Linda and Charles Micallef have lived on Donald Street in Nyah West.
They’ve seen trucks, buses and burnouts tear up the unsealed road’s surface, creating pot holes “the size of craters”.
They, and the other residents on Donald and Frederick streets, have continuously asked council for their streets to be sealed.
But after nearly three years of pleading, nothing has happened, they say.
There has been no word from council as to when, or even if, the roads will be sealed.
Although Donald and Frederick streets are not the only unsealed roads in town, the majority of traffic leaving town uses these two roads.
The other unsealed road in town, Elizabeth Street, was blocked off at the eastern end to stop traffic coming and going town as it was considered a dangerous intersection; it is situated on a bend and near the railway line.
The Micallefs claim they have been told that due to a development deal struck years ago, there is jurisdiction that states the road doesn’t need to be sealed.
This deal wasn’t declared when the couple bought the property three years ago, they said.
The jurisdiction also allegedly says the road is private property and isn’t council’s responsibility, but the Micallefs claimed that they and other residents aren’t allowed to make alterations to the road.
Furthermore, they have since been informed by a Swan Hill Rural City Council (SHRCC) staff member the street is a gazetted road not a private road.
SHRCC staff reportedly placed tape and speed monitors on sections of Donald and Frederick streets and it was considered as only a few cars were detected speeding it didn’t warrant sealing.
“We’re getting conflicting advice,” Mrs Micallef said.
“Our rates are no different to people who live on sealed roads. We’ve asked for almost three years and nothing has been done.
“I have spoken to Councillor Gary Norton on the phone and he told me chief executive officer John McLinden and the new council engineer went out to see the roads last week to see what needed to be fixed.
“He also told me that it’s in the hands of the engineer now.”
To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (November 11).
