Road works anger

By Sarah Thompson
ANGRY Woodlands Avenue residents are up in arms about Cardinia Shire Council plans to seal their road and charge residents up to $15,000 per household.
The outraged Emerald residents fear that the proposed Westlands Road Group Street Construction scheme will go ahead despite their protests and have formed the Woodland Avenue Action group in order to stop the costly street construction going ahead on their road.
Similar opposition saw Clematis Park Road and Ogilvy Street excluded from the scheme.
However, people living in Woodlands Avenue feel their fears are not being addressed, said resident Peter Nodin.
“I cannot believe that we are not being listened to, the shire states one thing and does the opposite,” he said.
“The majority of residents are opposed to the road scheme yet the shire and the engineering consultants continue to plan and spend ratepayer’s money.
“The only drawn out winners from this drawn out process will be the consultants’ bank balances.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s governance and communication manager Doug Evans said that the majority of residents would have to support the scheme in order for it to go ahead.
He said the council is in the process of sending out final costs for the residents in order for them to make an informed decision.
Action group spokesman Adrian Hildebrand said residents fear they will not be able to afford the cost of the works.
“The shire has indicated that the household unit cost for the road has been capped at $15,000 and this is way over the top.
“How can Mr and Mrs Average come up with that sort of money?” Mr Hildebrand said.
Ranges Ward councillor Ed Chatwin said he understands people’s concerns and that residents may be able to pay an affordable amount over an extended period.
“We’re looking now to offer the stakeholders an opportunity to pay over seven years at the rate council can borrow at plus a small administration levy,” Cr Chatwin said.
Cr Chatwin says that the road scheme will also benefit other local townships by allowing them to move ahead. “If council cannot get a scheme like this up for the benefit of residents in general, none of the townships will move ahead,” he said.
Mr Hildebrand says that the shire is using bullying and stonewalling techniques to enforce the road, and he wants to know why.
“The action group is still at a loss to understand the shire’s motives and total lack of response and compassion.
“There seems to be a total absence of common sense or an appreciation of the financial hardships they are going to cause this community,” he said.