Road goahead

By TANIA MARTIN
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has agreed to implement a Special Charge Scheme for the upgrade of a Mt Evelyn road.
Residents in Wattle Valley Road and O’Connor Avenue have been campaigning for the past five years to have their roads sealed.
In March 2000 landowners were surveyed to gauge the level of support for the introduction of a Special Charge Scheme (SCS) for the works.
The SCS is a payment program that combines landowners and council contributions towards the upgrade or sealing of unmade roads.
Shire director of environment and engineering Simon Thomas said as a high level of support was received by landowners, the project was then listed on the council’s 10year forward Capital Works Expenditure Program.
The council has a policy of contributing 20 per cent of the total cost of road sealing projects.
Mr Thomas said landowners in Wattle Valley Road and O’Connor Avenue were resurveyed in January this year to confirm their ongoing support for the SCS. He said nearby residents indicated an 88 per cent support for the use of a SCS for the upgrade of the roads.
Shire manager of civil development services Mark Varmalis said the sealing of the roads were expected to cost the council $929,510 with $487,500 being contributed by landowners.
Mr Varmalis said that due to the significant cost of the roadsealing project, the maximum contribution a landowner would have to make was $12,500.