Melbourne council plans to restore ‘heritage’ concrete roads despite concerns over cost and safety

Historian supports preserving some of the interwar period roads, but Yimby activist calls Boroondara council plan ‘tone deaf’ in a housing crisis

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A Melbourne council has developed a plan to restore several concrete roads it deems to be of “heritage significance”, despite admitting it costs up to three times as much as asphalt and is less safe for drivers.

Community consultation closes this week on a plan by the City of Boroondara to restore about 15% of the council’s 22km of concrete roads, which were constructed during the early 20th century across suburbs such as Balwyn, Camberwell, Glen Iris, Hawthorn and Surrey Hills.