By Danielle Kutchel
Casey Council has cleared the way for a new arterial across one of the region’s key development areas.
The council has approved the acquisition of two properties on Soldiers Road in Berwick to make way for a north-south arterial through Minta Farm.
The owners of the property will be compensated using funds collected under the Minta Farm Infrastructure Contributions Plan.
The decision to acquire the properties to kick-start the project was made at a council meeting on Tuesday 17 August.
The north-south arterial is part of a long-term plan to alleviate traffic pressure on Soldiers Road.
The planned north-south route will be a six-lane road running from Ballarto Road in the south up to O’Shea Road in the north, linking residents to the Monash Freeway.
The northern segment of the arterial will run through Minta Farm, from Grices Road to O’Shea Road, and will connect with the Monash Freeway.
O’Shea Road is currently being upgraded to a three-lane road that will meet up with the Monash Freeway interchange in Beaconsfield, and is expected to be completed in 2022.
According to the council, acquiring the Minta Farm land will allow for the construction of the arterial in time for it to connect with the O’Shea Road upgrade.
The delivery of the arterial will also unlock Minta Farm for further development.
Until the arterial is built, Minta has been capped at 1000 residential lots, however, the construction of the road means the lot cap can be lifted and the northern end of the Minta precinct can be developed.
The cost of the arterial will be covered by development contributions collected from Minta Farm.
The council is currently in active negotiations with a developer for the arterial project and is exploring the option of a works-in-kind package to offset the cost against the development contributions owed.
