THE boldness of a 10-year-old boy might be the difference in getting something done about one of the most dangerous sections of major roads in the south-west.

The two-kilometre stretch of the Coleraine-Edenhope Road, just north of the Glenelg Highway west of Coleraine, is without doubt one of the most compromised bitumen surfaces a vehicle could ever encounter in Victoria, with waves, angles and distortions that would look more at home on a rough ocean surface than a major road, and often carries loaded B-double trucks and regular traffic.

This especially applies for those travelling southbound, as the road falls away past a cheeky sign that reads, ‘The Big Dipper – enjoy the ride’ and weaves its way down the steep hill into the valley; every driver has to be watchful and concentrate fully on their actions, as there’s little room for an error that could have serious ramifications.

‘The Big Dipper’ isn’t the only name for it, locals also call it the ‘roller coaster’ and ‘the road from hell’ – and even the ‘Bermuda Triangle’– an acknowledgement of funding coming in, but never making a difference.

But that wry humour only hides the concerns they have – the truth is they wonder if it will take a tragedy to get some action to fix the road rather than the semi-regular patch-up jobs that do little to address the underlying problems.

Enter Gus McCure, a Grade 4 student from Balmoral Community College and a resident of Coojar, about 25 kilometres to the north.

His mother, Jo McCure, told the story of how he was complaining about a trip on the hill with his parents one day – “this road’s so bad, mum” – and they suggested he write a letter to the State Government.

“We got home, and he just sat down with a paper and a pen and wrote this letter,” she said.

Asked by The Spectator how he remembered the scene, Gus said he liked writing and it wasn’t just the prompting of his parents to get something down on paper.

“When I got back from hockey, I wrote it,” he said.

“(It took) maybe an hour.”

Lowan MP, Emma Kealy, received the letter and read it out in parliament on June 22, much to the delight of him and his family.

Ms McCure said they had received “amazing feedback” as a result of also sending the letter to Wannon MP, Dan Tehan, and the Southern Grampians Shire, but the response at state level was obviously the most gratifying to hopefully seeing something happen to fix the road.

As Ms Kealy read the letter as an adjournment matter, it meant the government minister concerned had to write back within 30 days.

Locals are hoping that Gus’ letter is a catalyst to getting something done, as the poor condition of the road is a major concern to many.

Konongwootong Dorsets partner, Jessica Sutherland, said the road was “disastrous, dangerous (and) a hazard to anyone using it”.

“We don’t have much choice … I think you take your life in your hands every time you use it,” she said.

“Either coming down or going up, you have to be extra vigilant all the time.”

Vickery Bros owner, Geoff Vickery, recalled how ironically 10 to 15 years ago the road used to be “the smoothest bit of road I could take someone in a prime mover for a test drive”, and that was with an old Hendrickson suspension.

He said his company now had a policy that drivers in an empty fertiliser spreader truck could only travel at 40 kilometres per hour down the hill.

He said “it was just a wonder” there hadn’t been a major accident.

“It’s a nightmare,” local farmer, David Botterill said of the road.

“It’s terribly unsafe.

“Everyone talks about what they need to do for the farmers and they need this government body and they need that government body – they’ve just got to have the roads fixed for us.

“We’ll take care of the rest.”

Mr Botterill was also concerned about an alternative route becoming increasingly popular – diverting about 8km back to take Balochile Road instead, which would result in the Shire road getting additional levels of traffic it was never designed to take, something that would only shift the problem to a different level of government.

Roads and Road Safety minister, Ben Carroll, has recently defended the government’s record and said they were committed to regional roads.

“Through significant $780 million investment in the Budget, we will continue to deliver more,” he said.

“Whether you live in Mildura or Morwell, Shepparton or Cobden, we’re delivering road improvements to every corner of Victoria.”

At the gathering of the locals for the front-page photo, Ms Kealy told the crowd she had received a response from the Roads minister.

“We’ve got the response back – they said that they’re going to look at fixing the road, and they might be able to fit it in as part of the Roads Program for summer, but there’s no guarantees about it,” she said.

“It just needs to be re-engineered and properly built from under the surface up.”

Ms Kealy said the important part was for the community to not give up and employ the squeaky-wheel-gets-the-oil principle, and encouraged residents to submit their votes at vicsworstroad.vote “so I and my colleagues can take this list to the Roads minister in coming months”.

In the meantime, she singled out Gus for his diligent and big-hearted effort and drew appreciative laughter from the crowd for an honorary suggestion.

“Gus, you’re a little hero,” Ms Kealy said.

“You’re the champion – if this road gets fixed you should be the one front and centre and taking the credit for it – maybe we need to call it Gus’ Hill afterwards.”

Gus wasn’t shy about the idea.

“Dad mentions Gus’ Hill a lot,” he said, and the locals laughed even more.