@Normal:Mount Evelyn resident Franc Smith and chooks Marg Dewar, Leonie Smith, Greg Carrick, Kerry Johnson and Robyn Speering object to the new “chook run” fences. 77061 Picture: Emma Sun
By Emma Sun
ANGRY Mount Evelyn residents, who dressed up as chooks to protest against roadworks that they say look like a chook run, want the look of the project toned down.
They were due to have a meeting yesterday (Monday) night with the council to have their say the $1.3 million works at the York Road and Wray Crescent intersection.
They have slammed the new fences and the colour of the concrete and retaining wall as ugly and called for an immediate stop to the works.
Long-time resident Franc Smith, who is heading the protest, said the whole intersection has become a concrete jungle, surrounded by a “chook fence”.
“They’re putting up concrete nature strips, galvanised poles and Besser bricks, which may look good at the end of the West Gate Bridge, but we are a town, and this is not (appropriate for) Mount Evelyn,” he said.
“The fences are supposed to protect pedestrians, but it which wouldn’t even stop a car or anything careering into it and the retaining wall was supposed to be natural rock and only a couple of feet high, but now they’ve got Besser bricks instead and it’s five foot high.”
He appealed to VicRoads and the Yarra Ranges Council look into ways of making the new works look better, including adding more vegetation.
“I told council that the fence has got to go, I don’t want a chook run in the middle of Mount Evelyn,” he said.
“The area should match the existing amenities that we have, and if the retaining wall could be rendered in reds and yellows, it would look a lot better.”
Yarra Ranges Council Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan agreed that many local residents and business owners may think the works aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as they could’ve been.
“I know how easy it is to put in straight concrete and galvanising, and this was something the shire should’ve considered,” he said. “It would very staid, which is not something we’re used to.”
Cr Heenan said that while the council would not be pulling out fences or digging up concrete, they would definitely look into ways of making the area look nicer and better represent Mount Evelyn as a township.
“We might do some mosaics or some burgundy coloured spray painting to the concrete,” he said.
A VicRoads spokesperson said the works are under council jurisdiction.
Yarra Ranges Council did not respond by the time of publication.
