Berwick residents Kathryn and Mark Faulkner and Melinda and Daniel Shine are rallying against a proposed planning application to build a 24-hour car wash, Hungry Jacks outlet and licensed restaurant in Berwick. 24430
By Kelly Yates
CASEY council has received a petition signed by 150 residents opposing a planning application to build a 24-hour car wash, a Hungry Jacks outlet and a licensed restaurant in Berwick.
Springfield councillor Lorraine Wreford presented the petition to the council during last Thursday’s meeting.
The three businesses – with the licensed restaurant set to be open until 2am on weekends – are proposed for the former Oliver’s on Clyde site on the corner of Clyde Road and Homestead Road.
The proposed development has sparked fears among local residents of an increase in traffic, noise and vandalism, and a devaluing of surrounding properties.
Moloney Court residents Daniel and Melinda Shine, whose property backs onto the site, object to the plan.
The couple say they have only two weeks to object to the proposal, despite the land being bought by the developer a number of months ago.
Mrs Shine said there were already two car washes in the area, along with many fast food outlets and restaurants.
“With the rising problem with child hood obesity, I would expect the council to be doing more to combat this, especially with Berwick being a high growth area for young families,” she said.
Fellow objectors Mark and Kathryn Faulkner, who have been living in Berwick for five years, fear the proposed development would see a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic in the area.
“I’m a 100-per-cent certain there won’t be enough parking available, and as a result there will be an overflow onto Homestead Road,” Mrs Faulkner said.
Cr Wreford said she hoped council officers wouldn’t support the application, as it would negatively impact on the residents.
