By Michael Newhouse
A GROUP of Sunshine West residents who lodged objections to plans to build a new 2.5km sewerage pipe along Kororoit Creek are likely to temper their opposition to the plan.
This follows a public meeting with council and water authorities last week. But while most residents said they accepted the need to build the sewer, some were frustrated at Brimbank City Council’s lack of communication over the impact City West Water’s planned works would have on the creek’s vegetation.
About a dozen residents turned up to Glengala Community Centre last Wednesday to an information evening hosted by the Council, which was a chance for all parties to get a clearer picture of the proporal’s impact.
Before last week’s meeting the council had received 75 objections to the planning proposal, largely in opposition to what many believed was City West Water’s plan to access the creek from Learmonth Crescent and the large amount of trees that would be lost as a result.
But project director Ken Mann assured residents only a small number of trees would be lost – somewhere around 12 – and that no trucks would use the Learmonth Crescent to access the creek.
Ken Mooney, who had gathered support for a number of the objections, told the meeting he supported the sewer works but the pressure applied to council on this issue was about more than just the creek.
“I just wanted to show that the community can fight and stand up for itself,” Mr Mooney stated during public question time.
Other residents asked repeatedly about City West Water’s ability to revegetate the creek area around Buckingham Reserve after the work was complete, with one resident calling for the water authority to inject additional money into the area’s beautification.
But questions arose about the council’s communication with residents over the project, with some residents saying that if last week’s meeting had been held when the application first came to council last year residents would have been more informed and less likely to object.
“There’s a lot of distrust in the community about council,” said Learmonth Crescent resident Gail Hume after the meeting.
A sentiment echoed by Lillian Bishop, who said that like most residents there on the night she agreed the works needed to be done, but “we just hope it’s done properly”.
Council will now hold a planning advisory meeting, in which residents will be able to provide submissions to council on City West Water’s application.
