By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY council has released its wish list for projects they are hoping to secure funding commitments for in the lead-up to the State Government election and have urged the community to join their campaign.
Last week the council launched the Make Your Voice Count campaign, which highlights seven projects Casey are seeking commitments to in the lead up to the November election.
Casey councillor and spokesperson Sam Aziz said State Government funding to provide essential infrastructure has not kept pace with Casey’s population growth.
“Through the Make Your Voice Count campaign, council will be seeking funding commitments from the Victorian Government and Opposition for seven projects which will enhance the liveability of Casey,” he said.
“In particular, the election provides council with an opportunity to leverage key transport advocacy priorities for the benefit of Casey residents.
“Only last year the Victorian Auditor General estimated there is a backlog of nearly $1.3 billion road improvements in Casey.”
The council is encouraging residents to show their support for the campaign by lobbying their local MP and election candidates and by visiting www.makeyourvoicecount.com.au, where they can sign a petition.
Residents can get involved on social media by Tweeting their views to @CityOfCasey using the hash tag #makeyourvoicecount and ’liking’ the council’s campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caseymakeyourvoicecount
The seven key priorities the council will be advocating for:
- Bus service improvements:
Currently, bus services within Casey are indirect and infrequent, however the council have found that for about the same operating costs, the bus network could be reconfigured to provide a more direct, frequent and reliable service. The council will advocate for a “20 minute service for a 20 minute city”, including a demonstration project to revise the delivery of bus services in Cranbourne, Cranbourne East and Clyde.
- Hallam Road duplication/South Gippsland Highway intersection upgrade:
Casey is seeking a funding commitment of $25 to $40 million for the duplication of Hallam Road, between Ormond Road and South Gippsland Highway, and an upgrade of the intersection with South Gippsland Highway. The need for the upgrade has become more urgent since VicRoads closed Evans Road at its intersection with Hallam Road and South Gippsland Highway in December 2012, following seven casualty collisions within five years. A council survey last year found that 75 per cent of respondents from the area believed the intersection should be upgraded as a high or very high priority.
- Thompsons Road duplication/ upgrade of the intersection with Western Port Highway:
The council is seeking a funding commitment of $220 million for the duplication of Thompsons Road, between South Gippsland Highway and Western Port Highway, and an upgrade of the intersection with Western Port Highway. The intersection is a major bottleneck affecting connections between Casey and the Monash Freeway corridor and links to the Mornington Peninsula and Hastings regions. The significant flow of traffic during peak hours often results in vehicle queues more than one kilometre in any of the approach directions. This has created significant transference of traffic onto local roads, which are not designed to cater to such large commuter volumes.
- Stage-two of the Narre Warren Cranbourne Road duplication:
The City of Casey is seeking funding of $75 to $115 million for the stage two duplication of Narre Warren Cranbourne Road, between Thompsons Road and the South Gippsland Highway. The road is the arterial spine within Casey and provides the key link between the Narre Warren area with the Cranbourne Activity Centres, as well as to developing and established residential areas, local schools, TAFE, community facilities and regional facilities. The large volumes of traffic which travel this road each day are significantly above the normal duplication trigger and as development continues, the capacity and safety issues are expected to worsen.
- An investment into the Casey Cultural Precinct:
The council is seeking a funding commitment of $10 million into the Casey Cultural Precinct, which will be a cultural, community and civic facility in Narre Warren. The council expects the precinct to attract more than two million visitors each year from across the region, with people able to get assistance from council, take in a theatre show, view art, see a national touring exhibition and relax with friends in the community plaza. It is estimated the project would create at least 1200 jobs during construction and a $150 million injection into the Victorian economy.
- Attraction of investment and creation of jobs in the Casey Cardinia region:
In this area, the council is seeking a planning scheme overlay for an airport in Melbourne’s south east. Casey is also seeking funding of $3.5 million to build a new gas gate to Cranbourne, Cardinia and the south east business park.
- Youth mental health services, including the construction of stage two of the Casey Youth Hub in Narre Warren:
The council requires $1 million funding to develop stage two of the Casey Youth Hub in Narre Warren. Casey has been experiencing significantly high rates of mental health issues among young people, and an associated high rate of suicide. The funding would enable to the council to increase service provision and support for young people in the region.
