By Jim Mynard
ANOTHER walkway in the Edwin Flack Reserve area is in danger of being lost to unit development.
The education department has advised residents the old farm lane from Brisbane Street to the Berwick Secondary College could be sold before Christmas.
However, pending further discussion, the department might put the plan on hold.
Craig Kinder, of Ridge Road, said residents in 2004 opposed sale of the land, but adjoining property owners were offered a deal.
Mr Kinder said neighbouring property owners were offered the opportunity to buy the land to stop unit development on the strip. The plan called for more than seven flats on the 14metre wide lane, he said.
“At the time, we had pressure on us as property owners to make decisions in 28 days,” Mr Kinder said.
“The Department of Education placed many land requirements on us if we took the deal, and there were costs associated with that.
“Councillor Neil Lucas and the Casey staff gave us great support at the time, and did much to help work things through. Unfortunately, the department, after all the pressure, has never responded as promised.”
Mr Kinder said nothing was heard until the department advised Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, without telling residents, the laneway would go to auction some time this year.
“The department did not tell adjoining ratepayers of the policy change. The department advised me that it would seek advice as to whether it should tell adjoining properties owners or not,” he said.
This issue follows a residents’ battle to save walkways in the Inglis Road area which also lead to the Edwin Flack Reserve.
Mr Kinder said the Education Department was arranging for three agents to value the land.
He said adjoining owners were really annoyed at being left in the dark by the Sate Government after being involved in considerable cost and time during meetings in 2003/04.
“It was the government that tried to pressure us to take the land up, but with unworkable restrictions. If the upkeep of the land is an issue, give it to the Berwick School as part of the land care and education program.
“Over four to five years they could do school classes on the environment, undertake replanting and learn about animal corridors.
“Berwick is beginning to look like a rental/flat developers’ paradise.
“Berwick and the City of Casey does not need more flats squeezed on to small plots, and this applies to all of Berwick and Casey. If you want to see the negative side just look at Sydney’s suburban developments, and then at the problems in years to come,” Mr Kinder said.
