Charge scheme plans ready to be assessed

CARDINIA’S Ranges Ward councillors Ed Chatwin and Graeme Legge have been appointed to assess submissions for the proposed Westlands Road Group’s special charge scheme.
Over the last month, there has been intense speculation by residents about the need for the road scheme.
However, the council has agreed to take the scheme to the next step and for Cr Chatwin and Legge to assess the submissions for and against the proposal.
The proposed scheme will affect ratepayers living in Westlands Road from Memorial Avenue to Boundary Road West, Memorial Avenue, Benson Street, Russell Street, Bayview Road, Woodlands Road and Boundary West Road.
The special charge scheme is a program that provides homeowners the opportunity to contribute financially to the sealing of their road. The council initiated the process to survey nearby residents for the introduction of the scheme in October 2001 after receiving several complaints relating to the roads safety, the poor and open drainage and issues with dust in summer and mud in winter.
In 2004, an advisory committee for Westlands Road, Memorial Avenue and Benson Street was established, but after an initial meeting the scheme area was expanded to include representation from the wider area.
Following the committee’s recommendation, in August last year the council resolved to give notice of its intention to declare a special charge scheme to home owners.
The proposed scheme will affect 160 home owners and will cost an average property $7,949. The total cost of the scheme is $1.765 million with council’s contributing $585,000 towards the scheme. The issue will go back to the council on 18 July.