By Cam Lucadou-Wells
VicRoads and Melbourne Water state they are still open to relocating a controversial proposed roundabout at Greaves Road and Berwick Springs Promenade, Narre Warren South.
Their statements are at odds with Casey mayor Sam Aziz’s recent assertion that they are emphatically against moving the site.
VicRoads’ regional director Aidan McGann said the authority had advised Casey it was “possible” to relocate the roundabout.
“There are however a range of design, environmental and financial impacts that could arise if a relocation or redesign was proposed.
“Council needs to consider these impacts when deciding whether it wishes to amend the current design or location.”
Melbourne Water stated it would not object to the roundabout’s relocation as long as safe flows and flood levels in the nearby Hallam Valley Contour Drain weren’t affected.
Its waterways and land regional manager John Woodland said works also needed to be sensitive to the threatened dwarf-galaxias fish in the drain.
The water authority is understood to prefer the developer Moormac Property Group to install culverts so the drain would not need to be realigned.
The proposed, widened roundabout was to lead to the demolition of the premium Berwick Springs estate’s bluestone-wall gateway, much to the ire of residents.
A petition of 1200 signatures and recent mass protests have been organised in opposition to developer Moormac Property Group’s roundabout.
Resident Michael Ball said Cr Aziz should strongly back resident opposition against the roundabout’s site – in the manner of Wyndham Council against a proposed youth detention centre in Werribee South.
“I would suggest that Cr Aziz needs to fact check his statements before misrepresenting and making misleading commentary.
“Who will Casey and our mayor Sam Aziz support here? Will it be the wishes of the residents?”
Casey mayor Sam Aziz said the VicRoads advice was “contradictory” to its recent correspondence to the council.
The letter stated in “very strong language” that the roundabout had to be built at the proposed site in accordance with the precinct structure plan, Cr Aziz said.
He said it was “absolutely” political brinkmanship from VicRoads.
“They’ve done this before with the (recent Narre Warren North) mosque application.
“They said they didn’t approve of the mosque’s traffic management but … (then publicly) say it was a council decision.
“But what else do you expect from an agency led by (Roads Minister) Luke Donnellan?”
