The future of the popular Exchange House Food Store is potentially hinged on a set of VicRoads proposed plans to construct dual-lane roundabouts either side of the business.
Unfortunately for the Exchange’s owners, Barry Walker and Carmen Pepper, those plans mean a radical change for their busy business.
“I think what they’re planning is an easy fix for them,” Mr Walker said of the draft plans that include cutting his car spaces down to just eight angle parks, with no room for large vehicles.
“There’s just not enough space.
“For us it will mean no log trucks, no caravan and trailer access,” Mr Walker said.
“We open at 3.30am and the number of truckies that come in would surprise you.
“There are no other places in town where they can park and take their breaks.
“We would have more than 300 cars a day come through our carpark, a lot of locals.
“We’re being punished for having a successful business.
“I start at 3am, we work hard, we bust our guts seven days a week.”
Bairnsdale’s traffic and intersection issues are set to worsen with burgeoning populations in Eastwood and new estates and to combat that, Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) has proposed plans to create four lanes in front of the Exchange House. The proposed plans are available on the RRV website (see map on page 2) and form part of Stage Two, with Stage One the proposed construction of a dual-lane roundabout at the intersection of the Princes Highway and McEacharn Street. The proposed plans also include an upgrade to the entrance/exit of Hadfield Street from the Princes Highway.
On a map obtained by the Advertiser, McKenzie Street residents (adjacent to the Exchange House) wishing to go west into town will need to travel through the busy Exchange carpark, up to the Great Alpine Road/Princes Highway roundabout and then back towards the town centre.
RRV expects this option to be faster than waiting for a safe gap in traffic under the current conditions of the intersection.
RRV received $450,000 from the Victorian Government in 2017 to investigate future road improvement projects in Bairnsdale, with the community identifying issues and improvement opportunities on the town’s arterial road network.
The community raised concerns about the existing roundabout at the intersection of the Princes Highway and the Great Alpine Road, particularly regarding safety, congestion and travel delays during peak periods.
Other priority intersections included the Princes Highway and Bairnsdale-Dargo Road; Bullumwaal Road and Howitt Avenue; and the Princes Highway and McEacharn Street .
RRV eastern regional director, Sara Rhodes-Ward, said she appreciated the feedback that had been received and aimed to release updated plans to the community in 2020.
“We’re working with the local community and business owners to help us deliver a solution that meets the needs of the people who drive our roads every day,” Ms Rhodes-Ward said.
Mr Walker said VicRoads representatives had shared the proposal with them back in September and had listened to their concerns.
“They are actually willing to talk about a solution,” Mr Walker said.
But nothing has happened since that time.
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has been on the case and has ‘unsuccessfully sought meetings’ with VicRoads to further the feedback phase.
“They’ve had deaf ears to date,” Mr Bull said.
“I want to advance these discussions but permission hasn’t been granted yet.”
The Exchange House, named for its history as a Post Office in the 1800s where the drivers and horses changed over on the trip to Omeo, has been in business for 10 years and its people are an integral part of the social framework in town.
It employs 22 people, providing a pathway for the girls to gain employment in customer service careers, and also contributes money back into the community via its support of local sporting clubs.
And the ever-smiling, friendly food shop owner won’t be able to provide another community service.
“If the caravanners can’t come in I won’t be able to promote East Gippsland,” Mr Walker said.
“I say ‘Have you been to Mallacota? Lakes Entrance? Marlo?’ and when they say no I tell them it’s worth the drive.
“We’re not a multinational, we source our food locally, which helps the food service companies employ people.
“The way the carpark is, it’s good because it works, there’s never been a problem.”
More information can be found at the Regional Roads website with a search for ‘Bairnsdale road improvement planning’.
IMAGE: Exchange House Food Store owner, Barry Walker, has major concerns about VicRoads’ dual lane proposal outside the front of his business. K1517-1829
