Decision seals road scheme

– Tania Martin
AN EMERALD road construction scheme now has the seal of approval.
After months of speculation over the need for the scheme, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last week gave the Westlands Road Group special charge scheme the green light.
VCAT upheld the Shire of Cardinia’s original decision to go ahead with the scheme which will see 2.4 kilometres of streets in Emerald sealed.
The scheme will affect ratepayers living in Westlands Road from Memorial Avenue to Boundary Road West, Benson Street, Russell Street, Bayview Road, Woodlands Road and Boundary West Road.
The special charge scheme is a program in which homeowners contribute financially to the cost of sealing their road.
The council will contribute $654,000 towards the $1.85 million project and the average cost to homeowners will be $7949.
Both Ranges Ward councillors Ed Chatwin and Graeme Legge have welcomed the news that the scheme now has the green light.
Cr Chatwin said the council has an extensive consultation process over the introduction of the scheme and that two thirds of people who made a submission on the scheme were in favour of the project.
He said property owners would receive great benefits from the works such as improves access, and reduced dust in summer and mud in winter.