Two local papers this week ran stories on the battle local Clifton Springs residents are having with the City of Greater Geelong over the proposed building of a bridge over Griggs Creek linking Bay Shore Ave with the Jetty Road housing development led by L. Bisnella Developments.
The Bellarine Independent reports in an article on August 26, 2011, by Kim Waters entitled "Go tell it to VCAT" that:
"Planning Minister Matthew Guy has shot down objections to a proposed bridge at Clifton Springs, according to a lead objector.
John Boland said Mr Guy suggested the 824 people who signed a petition against the bridge should take their fight to a Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal hearing in October"...
Mr Guy's letter recommended VCAT as the appropriate authority to consider the objections..."
The Echo on Thursday 25 August 2011 reported in an article entitled: "Springs bridge fears" by Martin Watters that:
"Dangerous traffic volumes, land-slip fears and lost Aboriginal artefacts are the reasons cited by hundreds of Clifton Springs residents voicing their disapproval of a planned bridge to estate land...
The protests accuse City Hall of approving the cheapest option in catering for heavy traffic, which residents say will pose a danger to school children and the elderly.
Under the City of Greater Geelong's master plan for the area, the development was originally planned to be serviced by a north-south road through the middle of the estate to cater for traffic during construction and when finished.
But residents became concerned when told that road would not be built for 15 years, if at all..."
A letter to the editor in the Echo on Thursday August 25, 2011 by Gary Dean from Clifton Springs states:
"The City of Greater Geelong is supporting an application to go before VCAT to construct a bridge over Griggs Creek at Bayshore Ave, Clifton Springs, against overwhelming opposition of 864 signatures on a petition, which is growing rapidly as more and more residents become aware of council's plan.
We oppose the bridge, not the new estate, due to a number of genuine concerns.
No north/south road from Portarlington Rd for up to 15 years.
COGG confirms that up to 3000 vehicles a day could use our residential streets should the bridge construction go ahead with the blessing of council....
The concerns of residents and ratepayers in the Clifton Springs/Drysdale communities seems to pale into insignificance when compared to the interests of developers in the eyes of this council...
We need to do everything in our power to stop this bridge."
DryClift Days August 25, 2011 also reports: "Interest grows in 'rogue bridge'":
"The City of Greater Geelong's (CoGG) decision to allow an 'unlimited load' bridge to be built from Bayshore Avenue into the northern end of the Jetty Road Urban Growth Area is attracting growing opposition and media interest.
Residents argue that an 'unlimited load' bridge would take a heavy toll on their way of life, on their safety and on their fragile natural environment and cultural heritage. A decision of this sort of significance would normally be subject to public scrutiny through the formal planning process, but local people heard about this 'rogue bridge' only once the council had decided to allow it. 864 residents have signed a petition to state Planning Minister Matthew Guy, calling on him to intervene in the issue..."
Another example of council pandering to the wants of real estate developers and not of their consituents. The VCAT hearing is listed for 26 October 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment