By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey councillors have defied protestors and unanimously supported a controversial expanded roundabout at the front of the exclusive Berwick Springs housing estate in Narre Warren South.
About 100 residents rallied outside Casey Civic Centre after councillors passed the decision without debate on Tuesday, 21 February.
Spokesman Michael Ball headed a campaign with about 1200 petition signatures to oppose the destruction of the estate’s landscaped, bluestone wall entrance to make way for the Greaves Road roundabout.
“We’re stunned and outraged that no councillors in Casey opposed what can only be called the complete vandalism of our estate.
“It was passed through in a minute with a block of other agenda items.
“One resident passed me a note saying: ‘Why do we have a council?’”
Mr Ball said mayor Sam Aziz, who is the ward councillor for affected residents, had “completely turned his back on us through this whole process”.
He criticised Springfield Ward councillor Rex Flannery for “succumbing to pressure and raising no objection”.
“This is a sad day in the history of Casey.
“It appears democracy for the people is lost.”
Residents had campaigned for the two-lane roundabout to be shifted north across Hallam Valley Contour Drain and onto the proposed Alira housing estate.
Casey Council officers estimated the option would put the council at “significant risk” of paying up to $4.2 million.
The option would potentially involve a complex re-design of the drain to ensure water flows, flood mitigation and the protection of a threatened fish, the Dwarf Galaxias.
The council’s preferred $5.2 million option would be paid by developer Moremac Property Group and VicRoads.
It would include replanting trees and reinstating a new gate entry to the estate.
Cr Flannery said he would advocate for residents when Moremac submitted a permit application for the roundabout.
“There was no point standing there fighting a losing battle. I knew I was going to get flogged.
“The developer still has to get a planning permit, then consultation will be taken up with residents by the council and they will have a better hearing.
“It’s not done and dusted yet.”
Cr Flannery said he was still weighing up the potential cost to Casey Council to shift the roundabout north.
“I support rate-capping, so would I put my hand in the council’s pockets for an extra $4-$5 million for this?”
Mayor Aziz said Cr Flannery showed himself to be a leader by backing the council officers’ recommendation.
Cr Aziz said he had to look after another 309,000 residents who would have to pay for a problem “not of our own making”.
He said that estate residents would realise they’d been “led up the garden path” at project’s end, resulting in improved traffic flows and a reinstated gateway entrance.
“We’re talking about a very small group of residents brainwashed by a chief agitator.
“They should have gone to their state MPs and said look at what your government has done.”
Moremac Property Group director Bryce Moore said the developer would not have contributed to the residents’ preferred model, stressing environmental concerns were the “driver”.
“I’m pleased the council reached that conclusion but not surprised.
“There was a solid body of work on where the roundabout was best located.”
