February 8, 2026
Residents Endure Nightly Disruptions from Reckless Drivers
Years of vandalism and harmful driving alongside a winding 6.2-kilometre stretch of Yarra Boulevard in Melbourne’s internal east have prompted contemporary calls for for stricter enforcement. The highway, which hugs the Yarra River and crosses the Jap Freeway in Kew with a 50km/h pace restrict, has turn into a infamous hoon hotspot.
Native resident Char Weeks, dwelling about 750 metres away, regularly wakes to the sounds of screeching tyres, loud braking, and accelerating engines. “At 2.30 within the morning I hear screeching tyres, loud braking, accelerating,” Weeks stated. “Firstly, you suppose somebody’s had an accident, then you definitely type of go, ‘Oh, it’s hoons on the boulevard once more’.”
Egon Leopold Seder, one other close by resident, contacts emergency companies as much as 5 instances per week throughout hotter months, with fast responses from officers. “It’s harmful, it’s intrusive, it’s relentless,” he acknowledged.
Proof of Vandalism and Dangerous Behaviour
Latest resident footage captures automobiles drifting round corners in noisy convoys and rushing loudly over bumps earlier than accelerating sharply. Issues prolong to broken highway indicators, particles like automobile elements, and skid marks throughout lanes. Two “no standing” indicators and one other highway signal had been not too long ago discovered lodged in an embankment above the freeway.
Seder views the anti-social acts and vandalism as deliberate provocations. “We’ve obtained to make this a hostile surroundings,” he stated.
Security Upgrades Yield Combined Outcomes
Hooning has plagued the boulevard for years, contributing to a few fatalities in speed-related crashes since 2014. The federal authorities allotted $7 million for upgrades since 2019, together with raised pace bumps, intersection modifications, an extra safety digital camera, and enhanced lighting.
Nonetheless, residents word that pace bumps have exacerbated noise in some areas as drivers speed up and brake dramatically between them. Susan Sawyer described the “extraordinary” noise worsening post-upgrades, elevating security fears for pedestrians. “The present approaches aren’t working, one thing else must be carried out,” she stated.
Resident Cameron Clark experiences some enchancment from previous campaigns, crediting pace bumps for curbing extreme engine revving. “The one wise resolution is to take the enjoyable out of it for them,” he famous.
Enforcement Efforts and Requires Change
Police knowledge signifies at the least 80 infringement notices issued for rushing and different violations previously 5 months. Officers conduct common patrols, supported by a cellular CCTV digital camera on the Jap Freeway overpass.
Metropolis of Boroondara Councillor Sophie Torney, affected at her house, highlighted group disruptions. With $2 million in federal funding unspent as of Could 2025, she urges options to hurry bumps, reminiscent of partial highway closures, high-tech enforcement, and superior visitors calming. “I don’t know what it’ll take for the Division of Transport and Planning to behave. Is it going to be one other demise on this stretch of highway? They really want to step up and interact with the group,” Torney stated.
Boroondara Mayor Wes Gault emphasised impacts on a whole lot of households, aiming to collaborate for safer situations so residents can sleep “with out the Australian Grand Prix taking place exterior their home at 2am”.
Politicians Weigh In
Opposition Chief Jess Wilson, MP for Kew, fields common complaints about sleep disruptions and advocates trialling NSW-style noise cameras. “Within the midst of against the law disaster, it’s not truthful or cheap to count on Boroondara police to take care of a nightly presence at Yarra Boulevard,” she stated.
Impartial MP Dr Monique Ryan for Kooyong warned of impending accidents, noting consciousness throughout authorities ranges. “It’s solely a matter of time earlier than we see a nasty accident,” she acknowledged.
Official Responses
A Division of Transport and Planning spokesperson affirmed ongoing collaboration with council, police, and residents. “Hooning promotes reckless, unsafe driver behaviour and will increase the danger of highway trauma, not solely to the driving force however everybody round them,” the spokesperson stated.
VicRoads Minister Melissa Horne burdened shared highway security duties, with guidelines in place to guard all customers.
