RRV says Coles truck drivers to blame for repeated damage to new work

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A Ballarat resident living just off Mair Street says planning sessions of the recent Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) update were warned the centre plantings were likely to be destroyed by trucks running through them long before they were installed.

Katherine, who lives just metres out of the eastern end of Mair Street, said she had raised the issue of trucks taking wide turns to enter the Bakery Hill Coles supermarket loading dock during community consultation sessions.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/caleb.cluff/f2e98d89-a0e3-4015-8a93-6619ce3537d7.jpg/r0_0_4901_3262_w1600_h1600_fmax.jpg
Flattened: A road sign lies broken off at the base, irrigation for garden plantings is torn up and a tyre gouge runs through this median strip on Mair Street. Picture: Adam Trafford.

The $7 million upgrade, completed recently, included new centre median strips with irrigation for tree and garden planting. Those medians have been damaged several times since the completion of the project, most recently this week.

Katherine says she also raised the matter with a senior VicRoads manager, who told her the matter had been discussed with Coles.

"They told me that Coles management had instructed drivers, and they had to reverse from the eastbound lane," Katherine said.

"(The drivers) are too lazy to do a lap down to Humffray Street. I was basically fobbed off; told that they had an agreement with Coles on how the drivers would enter the loading dock. The ball was basically in Coles HQ hands, and any inadequate planning was now their issue. But it's obvious from the constant state of the garden that they aren't reversing in the way that has been agreed to."

RRV regional director (Western) Michael Bailey told The Courier the issue had been considered during the planning.

"We worked closely with all Mair St businesses, including Coles, to ensure that the design of the Mair Street upgrade catered to their needs - including the movements of delivery trucks," Mr Bailey said.

"This included working with Coles to develop a route for their delivery trucks to follow, where they can safely enter and exit the supermarket's loading area. The design of the new centre medians also includes driveable concrete areas outside the supermarket which make it easier for trucks to travel in and out of the loading area."

It's understood the agreed route delivery trucks are advised to travel takes them along Victoria Street, before turning right onto Humffray Street North and then right onto Mair Street.

While RRV puts the responsibility for damage squarely back in the truck drivers' court, Katherine says there's a flaw in the design process.

"Ultimately it is a failure of the engineers to not know the turn circle of a semi-truck, or ignoring the details for design sake," she says.

"It looks as though they haven't even done a study into the measurements and limits of the docks which would impact on the road design. They knew about this before they even started any work. I submitted a form feedback on the design at the popup consult on Lydiard St, as well as online feedback submission."

"I've lodged the damage with them several times, as they've taken out two signs and damaged the gardens at least twice prior to this."