People power on the warpath

By Callan Date
PEOPLE power has won out in a battle over a public path set to be built within metres of more than 25 Narre Warren South houses.
City of Casey officers wanted to push ahead with the original $456,000 concrete shared path, which stretches alongside the Hallam Main Drain reserve between Shrives Road and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road.
But the council overturned the proposal at a recent meeting after affected residents lodged a petition outlining their opposition to the path.
The move may cost Casey an extra $228,228, with the original funding now in jeopardy.
Up to 20 locals signed the petition, which called for the path to be relocated. Three alternative locations for the path were also provided to the council.
Petition organiser Ian Murphy said security issues, privacy, litter and flooding dangers were all reasons why the path should be moved.
“We are not really happy with the council officers’ option,” Mr Murphy said.
“Our preferred option is for the path to be on the levy bank. It will be useable all year round and we get our privacy because it becomes 50 metres from our back fence and not six.”
“We are not against the path – we just want the path to be relocated to a more sensible location.” Parks Victoria had committed to funding half the cost of the path.
Council officers said in a report that this money would be at risk of being withdrawn if the original path location wasn’t maintained.
“Given the funding for the construction of this path was for the 2007-8 financial year and a condition of the grant was for the funds to be fully expended within the financial year, it is unlikely that Parks Victoria would support any re alignment of the trail,” the report stated. Council officers are now due to begin discussions with Melbourne Water officials about the necessary approvals to construct the shared path along the levee bank. The path is eventually set to be part of a wider network which will link Berwick Springs to Dandenong along the Hallam Main Drain.