Potholes

Our elected state representatives [though just how, why, and into what universe did we elect them?] seem more interested in making grandiose announcements—complete with a backdrop of seriously-visaged ‘noddies’ furiously bobbing their agreement—and spending billions of our money on their pet projects, instead of knuckling down to deliver the simple things their communities really want. The mundane task of fixing our roads appears to escape them … but hey, where’s the glamour in that?

Nothing rings a regional community’s bell more than bouncing through the potholes that, like rabbits, have bred throughout regional Victoria. However, as the votes that will secure the next election are not in the regions, but rather in leafy inner-city suburbs, “I Repaired Victoria’s Potholes” is hardly a catchy political epitaph.

The Great Ocean Road is one regional road I regularly use when I visit my family in Geelong, browse the aisles of the Waurn Ponds Bunnings, pick up nibbles for Blighty at the Pet Shop, and cheer on the Cats at Kardinia Park. Once a stunning ribbon of scenic beauty extending from Anglesea** to Allansford, its pitted, rutted bitumen is now neglected, dilapidated, and in decline.

**Author’s Note … I just can’t bring myself to accord Torquay the honour of being “The start of …” — for the founding father of the GOR, Howard Hitchcock, never intended Torquay to be part of his vision. Hitchcock’s original starting point remains enduringly marked by the Eastern View archway, though most would now fairly extend it to include Aireys and Anglesea. Torquay’s bragging rights only surfaced late in the 20th century when, desperate to deliver some southwest coastal “relevance” to its home base, the Surf Coast Shire deftly drew a new but inaccurate starting line in Torquay’s sand, then proceeded to erect numerous signs to deceive a gullible public.

 

Though my travel horizons are fast contracting, the roads I have recently travelled … like a cross-country zigzag from Lorne to Dunkeld, or a trek to Mansfield via the Tallarook to Goulburn Valley Highway link … have been veritable deathtraps for the unwary. Any regional or country motorist will confirm that the Victorian road network is in a shameful state. As rural billion-dollar wind turbines sprout like infesting thistles seed a fallow paddock, the state’s interconnector roadways are crumbling under the weight of the heavy-duty transports that carry these monsters.

Meanwhile, tourist buses pound the GOR and the ‘Penguin Highway’ to pieces, and the heavy machinery that sustains our struggling agribusinesses cracks and fragments the roadside verge.

Dodging potholes, crumbling edges, and rutted verges, and endlessly repetitive 40km signage—without any evidence of active repair work—are daily threats for those who live beyond our unaware metropolis.

Nearer to home, the hearts and minds of the Surf Coast Shire ratepayers might be more effectively captured if their rates were spent on improving, repairing, and resurfacing the Shire’s roads, not funding a multi-million-dollar indoor heated swimming pool and wellness centre within a brisk 5-minute walk of Torquay’s world-renowned surf beach.

Potholes … now there’s a topic … but where to start?

Three or four weeks ago, I was halted at Big Hill by a man astride the middle of the GOR bearing a stop sign in one hand while consulting his phone in the other. Ahead was an idling roadworks truck, a pile of tar-black, bitumenised pre-mixed gravel in the back [NB: no steam was arising]. Picture, then, the following sequence …

• First, a man with a shovel swooshed a blade full of the cold pre-mix into the flatbed of his shovel.
• After laconically carrying the mix across the road, he plopped it into a pothole that showed no evidence of having been cleaned and hollowed out for repair.
• After the divot had been filled to the level of its surrounds, a simple pat-pat-pat with the flat of the shovel finished the job.
• No tamping machinery was in use, nor was one even at hand.
• Returned to the truck, he scooped another shovel-load and offered the same easy-care solution to the next and nearby pothole.
• As a tradie would say … too easy!

Yesterday, I slowed as I passed the “repair site” to see how the work was holding up. It was no surprise to see that the newly repaired gravel surface was already starting to break down. I found myself wondering … is this the best we can do?

Later, when I asked Mr. Google, ‘… what is the best way to repair a pothole?’ Google’s new Generative AI platform spat out this succinct three-point answer…

• The best way to patch a pothole depends on the size and material of the pothole, as well as the desired longevity of the repair.
• For the temporary repair of a minor pothole, a cold-patch asphalt mix is a quick and easy DIY solution, but…
• For larger or deeper potholes, a more robust approach involving hot-mix asphalt is considered the best long-term solution.

Hot mix repairs, which provide strong, durable patching able to withstand traffic and a harsh environment, are favoured. However, it is crucial to properly prepare the pothole by [1] cutting out the damaged area, [2] cleaning it, [3] removing any retained water, and [4] ideally applying a ‘tack coat’ to improve adhesion. Above all, [5] compaction with a tamper or roller to ensure a solid, stable repair is critical, while [6] the application of a sealant … like BondCrete™ … around the edges of the repair to prevent water from seeping underneath and causing future damage is advised. As a novice observation, it seems a pity that no ‘Builders Bog’ filler-equivalent has yet been developed for road repair gangs!

Clearly, the GOR road gang must have assessed these potholes to be “minor” and only in need of a “temporary, DIY fix”, but from my chance viewing three weeks down the track, they had underestimated the wear and tear accrued by their DIY repair—a repair that is now rapidly degenerating into an even more complex surface defect.

In the end, and even if done correctly, patching is a temporising solution. Beyond potholes and edging, the whole GOR surface is in deep trouble. In the best of all worlds, the entire surface would need to be re-laid using modern macadam principles.

Whether our small population can afford the upkeep of its road system across this vast continent is now a trillion-dollar question. Still, as road transport—like our power grid—underpins every facet of our modern society, it is an expense that cannot be ignored indefinitely. One only has to cross the border, North or West to understand that our neighbouring States are maintaining roads so much better than Victoria. Maybe it is time to consider a toll on tourist roads like the Great Ocean Road to pay for its upkeep. It happens in most other places in the world.

On that note, Ms. Allan, I must wonder if the money you have been spending on Melbourne’s freeway-to-nowhere could have been directed towards a lasting upgrade to our regional road network.

However, perhaps that was wishful thinking.

John Agar
Feature Writer

A word from the chairman

Hello
So what is happening at Point Grey?
The good news is that the Aquatic Club redevelopment sub-committee have been holding a number of productive meetings with the project architects on the design and layout of the new Aquatic Club building.
The revised draft of the Urban Design Framework (UDF), following the extensive community consultation, and the results of the associated survey have not yet been released, despite a commitment that they would be published in July. It is apparent from discussions with the Aquatic Club that amendments will be made to the original draft UDF, so it is unclear why an updated UDF has not been released!
The understanding is that it is still planned to lodge planning permit applications for the Aquatic Club building and the rebuilt Co-op building within the next month, however no plans for the proposed Co-op building have been released, and at the time of writing no meeting of the Point Grey Community Reference (CRG) has been set, despite this being the logical group to provide community input on the design of the new Co-op building, if any is expected or invited!
I also note that the CRG has previously been advised that the planning permit application will be determined by the Planning Minister (not Surf Coast Shire) and that there are no VCAT appeal rights as it is covered by section 53.22 (significant economic development). One might question the “significant economic development” of replacing a thriving, popular restaurant with a 10 seat unlicensed café!
Meanwhile “temporary” safety fencing was erected last week around the Lorne Fishing Co-op building “which will allow us (GORCAPA) to plan for upcoming works such as asbestos removal and assessments of the 1949 section of the structure to identify viable salvageable materials that could potentially be repurposed in the new building design”. This sounds like either code for, or preparation for, demolition of the building!

*****
As our football and netball teams move towards the end of season with two home-and-away games to go, a number of our teams are again well-placed to feature in finals. Our Seniors and Reserves football teams both sit on top of their respective ladders, with our gallant under 18s facing a big challenge against Colac Imperials this Saturday to be any chance of playing finals. In netball, our under 15s should play finals, while our D-Grade team and the under 13s will need to win their final two games to be in contention for finals. Get to Colac if you can this Saturday to support all our teams and be at Stribling Reserve for a big final round on Saturday week, August 23.
*****
Our three local motorbike riders, Matt Griffiths, Troy Fynmore and Ashley Macdonald are well into their marathon cross-country ride to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute, supporting its mission to tackle mental health challenges through research, education and early intervention. I urge you to support the cause. You can donate here: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/mattgriffiths. Stay safe boys and enjoy the ride!

Cheers

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

August

16 – Surfcoast Wonderfalls Trail Run, Starting at Cumberland River/Lorne. Distances: 6km 13km 25km 42km 52km

23 – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Simpson, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 8:45am, seniors at 2pm

25 – Cheese-Making Course, Learn to make ricotta, paneer & mozzarella at Deans Cottage. 6pm – 7pm $35 per person. Register: [email protected]

September

3 – Round One Lorne Bowls Club Community Cup

7 – LAAC Winter Comp No 4. lines down after 6am, weigh in at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club at 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.