One of the gates on Boundary Road.By Jim Mynard
THE City of Casey blocked off Boundary Road, Narre Warren East, without consultation with neighbouring Yarra Ranges Shire or the community, according to Narre Warren North resident Ian Murphy.
Mr Murphy said the road was needed as an escape route from potential fires and was a designated equestrian trail.
He also complained that he had land to the north of the area and used Boundary Road every day.
“The council said I would have to hold a key to the gate, but I don’t want a key – I want the road left open,” he said.
Mr Murphy made his statement in response to new rules for fire safety announced in a joint Country Fire Authority and City of Casey statement, as reported in the Gazette on 6 December, and said neither organisation knew what they were talking about.
He also said the council did not follow correct procedures needed to close a road and initially agreed to take the gates down.
“But after a confrontation with a Yarra Ranges Shire officer, workers left the scene and left the gates in place,” he said.
However, Casey chief executive Mike Tyler said his officers did have ongoing discussions with Yarra Ranges officers about closure of the road for the winter months.
He said the gates would be padlocked open during the fire season.
Mr Murphy also commented on the issue extensively in a letter to the editor, published in the Gazette on 20 December.
He said a council officer could be sacked for blocking a road unlawfully and he believed Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson would move a motion during urgent council business that the officer responsible for erecting the gates be dismissed.
However, Cr Richardson’s motion put to the 19 December council meeting lapsed through want of a seconder.
Mr Murphy said it was totally unacceptable to block the road.
“This closure is totally inexcusable,” he said.
Mr Murphy said all fire access tracks should be left open to the public.
He said it was not sensible to talk about having a fire plan because people needed to make decisions depending on wind directions on the day.
“We have had no informed discussion on this issue,” he said.
Mr Tyler said the gates were erected not over fire issues, but because of complaints from residents about inappropriate behaviour in the unformed Boundary Road area during winter months.
“The City of Casey and the Yarra Ranges Shire have agreed that Yarra Ranges bylaws officers will police the area,” he said.
The road is not suitable for normal vehicles during wet months.
