New group formed to defend Cardinia

By Melissa Grant
FIRST the threat of an airfield, then a rail link for the Port of Hastings project and more recently a booster pump station.
Cardinia has been a town under siege – and now residents are forming a township committee to ensure people know where they stand about such proposed developments.
Residents Catherine Manning, Andrew Bergmeier and Cardinia Primary School principal Alan Armstrong will host an initial gathering tomorrow (Thursday) at the Cardinia Recreation Reserve, beginning at 7.30pm.
They have joined forces to set up the committee to help ensure locals stay informed.
The threat of an airfield, mooted about a decade ago, has passed but there is still the possibility of a Port of Hastings rail link running through the town and the imminent development of a booster pump station with a chemical dosing facility.
Mrs Manning said Cardinia was a town in desperate need of representation and hoped residents would support the establishment of a committee.
“If we had a township committee we would know things and have the chance to comment,” Mrs Manning said.
“Here, at the moment, things seem to come out (of) the blue and hit us like a ton of bricks.
“The time has come for us to at least know what’s going on and plan for the future.”
Mr Bergmeier said it was vital to have a group of residents with a focus, especially considering that the Cardinia Shire Council was working on a strategy for the town.
“If Cardinia Shire Council is making up its mind about what the township will look like in 10 years’ time, it’s even more important,” he said.
Mr Bergmeier said he would prefer to see Cardinia remain a sleepy hollow, but Mrs Man-ning acknowledged that other residents may have different views.
“We’d love to keep Cardinia as it is … but there are other people who want industria-lisation and are waiting to cash in on it.
“We need to get all those opinions together and discuss them,” Mrs Manning said.
She hoped many of the town’s residents would attend tomorrow night’s meeting.
“I see this meeting as an opportunity for residents to get involved in the future of Cardinia township, and to establish what issues they would like to see addressed in our community in the short and long term.”
For details call Catherine on 0417 355 644 or email catherinemanning@iinet.net.au