Road deal

By Paul Dunlop
WORK on a controversial roadsealing scheme in Emerald is expected to begin later this year.
Cardinia Shire Council has called for tenders for construction of the Westlands Road Group Scheme after a group of residents lost their bid to have the project stopped.
Most residents supported the $1.85 million project but a significant number — around 30 per cent — opposed it.
However, an appeal by eight property owners against the council’s decision to go ahead with the scheme was dismissed at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Gazette, 28 February).
Ranges Ward councillors Ed Chatwin and Graeme Legge, both strong advocates of the project, spoke out in its favour at the 19 March council meeting.
Cr Legge endorsed the decision to call for tenders for the works that will see 2.4 kilometres of unmade road sealed.
Cr Chatwin said it was a “great scheme” that would bring “enormous benefit to the area”. He said the project had been on the books since the mid 1980s.
The Westlands Road Group Scheme will affect people living in Westlands Road from Memorial Avenue to Boundary Road West and in Memorial Avenue, Benson and Russell streets, Bayview, Woodlands and Boundary roads. Plans for the works are complete and are available for inspection at the shire offices.
Council said it was planned to have the contractor appointed in late May with construction to occur during the second half of 2007.
Residents who appealed to VCAT argued that the cost of the works were unfairly distributed with property owners to pay up to $12,000.
Residents also claimed the project would not provide special benefit and were unnecessary, excessive, too costly and inconsistent with Cardinia’s own planning scheme.
Following a hearing in January, VCAT quashed the appeal, finding the council’s contribution was quite generous, that the proposed works responded to a need and were both “suitable” and “reasonable”.