Rats in the ranks

RESIDENTS in the Brindalee Estate and part of the Hunt Club Estate (both in Cranbourne East) may be concerned about recent actions by the City of Casey Council.
In the agenda for the council meeting held on 17 June an amendment to the Cranbourne East Development Plan was put forward allowing a new through road between land to the north of the Brindalee Estate and Linsell Boulevard, which, from the plan, appears to allow traffic through that estate from the north end of Fernisky Drive to Linsell Boulevard. This could be used as a ‘rat run’, particularly by parents from areas north and west of Brindalee Estate heading to/from the P to 12 School in the Hunt Club Estate.
Unfortunately for Brindalee Estate residents living on or near Fernisky Drive, council officers have decided on the grounds that “the only two affected landowners have given consent to the proposed changes”, so, “the proposed change does not need to be placed on public exhibition and can therefore be adopted by council”. It appears that the residents of Brindalee Estate will not be made aware of the anticipated extra through traffic which will be using their quiet street.
The ‘two affected landowners’ are the owners of 350 Cranbourne/Narre-Warren Road and 80s Linsell Boulevard (who may be either the Hunt Club Estate or Casey Council). If the council is one of the ‘affected landowners’ there is a clear conflict of interest.
The minutes of the 17 June meeting clearly show that not one councillor questioned this ‘hidden’ change so it was simply adopted without any discussion or specific vote.
I suggest that owners of property on the Brindalee Estate contact their ward councillors immediately and demand to know (a) if Casey Council is indeed one of the ‘affected landowners’ and (b) how they can object to this proposed change which will inevitably alter the character and road safety of at least one part of their quiet residential estate.
Allan Tully,
Cranbourne East