[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”81825″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Annette Madjarian[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Residents are crying out for Crater Size Potholes to be repaired along Pitt Town Road and surrounds, all the while they continue to get flat tyres in ‘dangerous driving conditions’.
Drivers using Pitt Town Road, from Kenthurst to Maraylya, and some of the adjoining roads, have described the conditions as ‘third world standard’ and have called on Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi to address the worsening problem.
On a recent ‘Glenhaven and Kenthurst Community Group’ Facebook post, residents outlined how the ‘nightmare’ road had cost them thousands of dollars in flat tyres and damages to wheels and rims. They say cars are ‘swerving onto the wrong side of the road to avoid severe damage to their cars’.
Potholes are also prevalent along Boundary, Fuggles, Binalong, Kenthurst, Burrill and Orana Roads, residents said.
Resident Christine Morris said her daughter had spent $1800 on a new rim for her car after hitting a pothole in the rain late at night. She said she had lodged ‘many requests to Council to fix roads’ but she had received ‘the same old lip service’.
On the Facebook post, Mayor Gangemi said ‘crews have worked very hard filling potholes and edge breaks along Pitt Town Road. There are 14 locations that require heavy patching and these works are being scheduled in the near future’. He encouraged residents to report the potholes to Council.
Resident Emma-Kate Comito said Council had recently ‘repaired’ Kenthurst Rd around the village area which had zero potholes or issues, ‘yet have left other sections screaming for repair’.
She said Council had previously “patched” potholes (sometimes many week after they appeared) but that they would reopen after the next rainfall. “It’s so dangerous to have the roads in this condition because unless you are aware they are there, driving is treacherous.
With speed limits of 70-80km/hr on some roads and poor lighting, it’s a tragic accident waiting to happen,” Ms Comito told the Galston, Glenorie & Hills Rural Community News.
Residents asked Mayor Gangemi to “take a drive” out to his own Council area to inspect the roads first hand. “You’ll need a tractor though, it’s the only safe vehicle to drive on that road,” Gabriele McDonald said.
In a reply to one of the residents on the Facebook post, Mayor Gangemi said “Council has allocated $410,000 for rehabilitation of Pitt Town Road between Kenthurst Road and Pitt Town Road. These works are scheduled in 8-10 weeks time due to the availability of contractors in the entire Sydney area”.
After being contacted by the Galston, Glenorie & Hills Rural Community News for a comment, Mayor Gangemi released a statement on his Mayoral Facebook page saying:
“Council’s crews are responding to a higher than usual number of requests and are inspecting key roads on a regular basis. All hazards reported are attended to quickly after a report is received, with Council staff undertaking work to make safe. Works conducted to make safe are not always the final repair.”
“Many roads require more significant repairs than simply filling in a pothole, they require heavy patching which is conducted by contractors. Across Sydney, there is a very high demand for the relevant contractors, so while numerous jobs have been scheduled, it may take some time to complete every job,” he said.
“Potholes are attended to fastest if they are reported in the correct manner through our website. Council’s maintenance team does not monitor social media, and Snap Send Solve does not always come through with complete information.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”83625″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
