Yeah, remember that the other option is for us to get to Wyche for a change, which might make it easier with Connors having work to do on the house. This week might not be the best option for that, but the week after could be much better (though I suspect from our conversation last week that Connors is going to have it all done by then, if he can).
With regards to the road closures, it looks like things are improving over the last 24 hours. Stay up to date on VicRoads website: http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/, or you should be able to get the free VicRoads app on your phone now that you've got a new one.
I have another shift change this week, so I AM now working DS on Friday, but only up to 5:30pm. I then have normal DS on Sat & Sun. Good chance I could get one of those off, but no chance for the Friday. For the price of just 7 hours of leave (which should be a shoe-in), I could have from Mon 26th Sep - Sat 1st Oct off though. That week would be perfect to do pretty much anything for mine.