Beverley is currently undergoing a innovative beautification project, aimed at providing an upgraded main street, with shade trees, gardens, seating and slow zones for pedestrians. Needless to say, the entire initiative began late, in October 2021. Not that much progress could have occurred over winter anyway, as we all endured cold and rainy conditions. Even the farmers complained about sodden paddocks and drowned crops. In spite of the less than clement weather, Western Australia's wheatbelt has just recorded a bumper harvest. And many of the shire's farming families are taking a much-deserved holiday.
Back to the Vincent Street redevelopment. The process began with drainage works, which involved digging very large holes under the bitumen, the installation of better drains, followed by preparing for the removal of overhead powerlines and poles by installing the electrical cables. More carnage on the remaining bitumen. Then, one power pole at a time, they all disappeared from the streetscape. We photographed the first and the last poles to be taken down. Rather like watching concrete being poured or roofing sheets being secured, we realised that power pole removal was yet another excellent spectator sport.
Summer has seen the ongoing gouging of Vincent Street and the adjacent footpaths. The workers are labouring through twelve hour days, in often intense heat. Today, more lines were cut in the road, where garden beds will be an integral part of Vincent Street's centre zone. Heat and dust are our constant companions, with strong winds, mostly at night and during the morning whipping up the debris. Temporary street lights have been set up, but navigating the prolific potholes is no easy task after dark.
Both horrifying and hilarious has been the traffic detours. Our local tyre service complained that their driveway was being used as a short cut, at rally speeds with no regard for safety. Anzac Lane, where we live, (even though Google maps has difficulty finding our location) is hazardous at speed. Although two-way, motorists treat the lane as one way, regardless of the way they are travelling. A ninety degree blind corner, situated at the edge of our carport, has recently become the scene of so many near misses that I no longer hold my breath as we watch two vehicles hurtling towards the other with no visibility. Think Bali in reverse. A two-way narrow lane being treated as one-way.
And the other day, the inevitable occurred, thankfully without destruction of our carport. More good luck than good management. The detour signs were up and traffic was being directed down Anzac Lane. The arrival of a double trailer truck heading north was a disaster waiting to happen. As the driver attempted to navigate the corner, he thought he would be able to complete the manoeuvre . He was wrong. The truck became wedged between Station House and Richard Jas' workshop. There was much scratching of heads whilst a solution was being formulated. A very muscular excavator was required to pull the back trailer into a line behind the front one, so the driver could complete his exit out of Anzac Lane without taking the roof of our carport with him.
Did these shenanigans cause any thought for caution by the remainder of our hooning motorists? Not bloody likely. All we hope is that Station House remains unscathed. The Detour sign next to Richard's workshop has not been so lucky. It is currently severely dented through an altercation with a vehicle of some weight...
Wish us (and our house!) good karma.
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