By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE ongoing quest to have a new pedestrian crossing installed at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre has finally come to an end, with Westfield announcing funding for the project.
The development comes after two years of community campaigning to have a crossing set up at the Magid Drive site, with a 400-signature petition presented to Casey Council in 2013.
Magid Drive borders part of the shopping centre and caters for a high volume of pedestrians who cross the road to access sporting clubs at nearby Max Pawsey Reserve, including the Narre Warren Bowls Club.
The crossing is currently being completed.
Resident Kerrie Puts, a driving force in compiling the recent petition, thanked Westfield Regional Manager Charlie Rimmer and local MPs Judith Graley and Luke Donnellan for helping campaign to make the crossing a reality.
At Tuesday’s Casey Council meeting a motion was also carried to write to VicRoads seeking a reduction in the speed limit along the notorious section of Magid Drive from 60km/h to 50km/h.
Ms Puts said the next priority was to now campaign to council for the installation of a footpath at the site, leading between Fountain Drive and Magid Drive.
“People do not only shop across the road. We use other facilities such as the council offices, library, public transport at the bus interchange, Casey ARC and, from 2016, the Casey Art and Cultural Precinct,” she said.
“Council needs to come to the party with funding this very basic need. No other crossing provides access to these facilities.”
City of Casey Manager Transport Paul Hamilton said the new pedestrian crossing and the gravel path were located within “Westfield Shopping Centre land” and were the responsibility of the centre.
“Council has advocated to Westfield on behalf of residents for the upgrade of the gravel link to connect to the existing concrete path in the adjoining council reserve,” he said.
