Road seal push

By Tania Martin
A MACCLESFIELD man has accused the Shire of Yarra Ranges of being undemocratic, following the release of plans for a special charge scheme (SCS).
Mark Sanders said the council had disregarded residents’ concerns and it appeared to have its own agenda.
The SCS is a co-contribution scheme between the council and landowners who wish to have their road sealed but the council must gain more than 70 per cent support before it can go ahead.
But despite 66 per cent of landowners being against the scheme, the council has decided to go ahead with the project for the benefit of the wider community.
Shire spokesman James Martin said the council had to make a decision on what was the best long-term outcome for all residents and road users.
Mr Martin said that at this stage, the council’s preference was to have the road sealed. “This will significantly improve safety and reduce dust and potholes, which have long been a source of frustration for residents,” he said.
A group of residents has been against the road scheme since 2006 when land owners of the road were surveyed about the proposed sealing of the road under the SCS.
In May 2006, the council informed residents that it had gained support for the program for the section of the road that runs from Cherry to Spillers Road and part of Kennedy Road.
However, the shire was unable to get adequate support to include the section of road from Macclesfield to Cherry roads.
Mr Sanders said the two sections were then broken up into two separate projects so that part of Tschampions Road could be sealed.
He said residents had believed section along Cherry and Macclesfield roads had been removed from the scheme because of a lack of support.
But residents were shocked in January when the council sent out letters saying that it would be resurveying a section of the Macclesfield-Cherry Road section.
Mr Sanders said the most recent survey showed that residents in the Macclesfield-Cherry section of the road did not want the road sealed.
But after re-surveying the area and still getting a majority vote against the scheme, the council still intends to go ahead with its plans.
Mr Sanders said he understood that the council wanted to seal the road but said residents living on that stretch shouldn’t have to pay for it.
“They have had this on the agenda all along and are trying to work around the process instead of listening to what the residents want,” he said.
Mr Sanders said he was now faced with a $13,500 bill for his share of the road.
“It’s just not democratic and we shouldn’t have to pay for it,” he said
But Mr Martin said the worst outcome for residents and road users would be to have some sections of the road sealed and others unsealed.
Mr Martin said that the council’s contribution to this project was far greater than similar projects.
He said the council would spend $822,000 towards the $1.16 million project which represents 70 per cent of the total cost and that it far exceeded the council’s normal contribution.
Mr Martin said no final decision had been made and that if the council decided to proceed, residents would still have the chance to appeal the decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT.)
Residents will also have the opportunity to have their say when the issue goes back before councillors on 22 July.