By Ruza Zivkusic
BURNSIDE residents will soon have their voices heard as a residents group for the area is about to be formed.
With an official meeting to be held in April, Burnside and Friends Community Group spokesperson Nathan Miles hopes to see a large group of members who will help target some of the issues the area has been experiencing since it was established.
Mr Miles said the group would work effectively with Melton Shire Council to resolve development issues and traffic congestion.
Taylors Rd, which runs through Melton Shire and the City of Brimbank, was recently duplicated only in Melton Shire, but Mr Miles said there was still frustrating traffic congestion for Burnside residents,
“We also want to work with the Melton Shire Council to improve the parks for the area of Burnside,” Mr Miles said.
Play equipment in the parks was in a poor condition, he said.
Mr Miles, who together with a few other residents contacted mayor Justin Mammarella about forming the group, said it would be open to other community groups such as mothers’ and men’s groups.
“Unlike other groups that may fight with councils, we want to work very productively with the council,” Mr Miles said.
Cr Mammarella supported Mr Miles idea.
He said a group helping to organise future facilities and informing council on community issues was “positive” for the council.
“The eastern sector (of Melton Shire) is a growing corridor, so I think the more contribution we have from members of the community, the better,” Cr Mammarella said.
Residents who want to be part of Burnside and Friends Community Group can contact Nathan Miles on 0400 988 931 or president Andrea Pearsall on 0412 966 504, or turn up at the meeting on Thursday 12 April at Brookside Community Centre from 7pm.
