By Cam Lucadou-Wells
CONTROVERSY over a proposed new roundabout for the entrance of the up-market Berwick Springs estate has descended into blame-shifting between VicRoads and Casey Council.
Casey mayor Sam Aziz says the project – which would bulldoze the estate’s tree-scaped bluestone wall entry feature – is subject to the consent of two state authorities – VicRoads and Melbourne Water.
“It’s ultimately their decision,” Cr Aziz said.
The council has requested the authorities as well as Planning Minister Richard Wynne and neighbouring developer Moremac Property Group, investigate relocating the roundabout so the entry features remain.
“I assure you that if it is determined not practicable to relocate the roundabout, Council is committed to ensuring full reinstatement of the estate entry features at an equivalent or superior standard nearby,” Cr Aziz wrote to Berwick Springs residents on 18 November.
Cr Aziz said this pledge made the controversy a “bit of a non-issue”.
However, VicRoads has stated that the roundabout at the corner of Berwick Springs Promenade and Greaves Road is on a local road, and so under council control.
Cr Aziz said this was “the State Government passing the buck”.
Resident Michael Ball, who has led a 400-plus residents petition against the roundabout, said he believed the decision was in Casey Council’s hands.
Mr Ball said he was “just getting dizzy, going round and round” from the political football.
He believed Casey’s position was tokenistically in favour of the Berwick Springs residents’ position, that any delay to developers could lead to Casey being sued for compensation.
Moremac, the developer of the neighbouring Alira estate, was unlikely to agree to change their roundabout plans because of the extra cost and complexity of building over Hallam Valley Contour Drain, Mr Ball said.
“I’m really concerned that this is a formality. They’ll go through the process and say we can’t do it, it will cost too much.”
