By Englebert Schmidl
WORK ON a controversial transport depot development has started in Spotswood, four years after it received approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrations Tribunal.
A spokeswoman for residents’ group Spotswood Community Against Transport Terminal (SCATT), Sheryl Enright, said the group was “extremely disappointed with the contempt shown by VicTrack” in its failure to adequately consult residents about starting work on the project.
She said a community liaison committee established four years ago had been dormant for at least the past two years until it was revived just two months ago.
She said the committee had met about five times in the past three years with the last meeting held on 13 June.
The reconvened committee also had significant changes to its membership, including the appointment of former Hobsons Bay City Council CEO Ken MacNamara as committee chairman, according to Ms Enright.
She said SCATT “was not happy” the project was going ahead but expected VicTrack to at least properly consult with the community about the project.
VicTrack general manager for asset management, Geoff Walker, said that VicTrack was working hard to address local community concerns.
Residents had originally objected to the proposal because of the impact a large transport depot, linking road and rail freight, would have on local traffic.
They also objected because it was close to Spotswood Primary School.
National freight company Sadleirs Transport will operate the depot once completed.
A VicTrack media announcement said “truck traffic alongside the Spotswood Primary School will be reduced significantly once the first phase of works to develop the Spotswood depot is completed in September 2007.”
“The initial works involve the construction of a new intersection into the site on Melbourne Rd controlled by traffic lights, and the closure of the McLister St entrance once the new access point is built, benefiting the school community and local residents.”
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Ms Dear has also been on the committee since it was first convened in 2003.
She was worried about the affect the works and the depot would have on enrolments at the school, which has 183 students.
The first phase of works will be to install an entrance to the site and a controlled traffic intersection, diverting heavy truck traffic from the immediate vicinity of the primary school on McLister Street, off Melbourne Road.
VicTrack’s Mr Walker said the new intersection was a win-win for all concerned – the local community, Sadleirs Transport, Hobsons Bay City Council, the environment and VicTrack.
“It will take truck traffic off McLister Street, provide safer vehicle access, clean up a seriously contaminated site and support the government’s plans to put more freight onto rail thus reducing road congestion.”
“Through the continuing goodwill and co-operation of all the parties involved, I’m convinced that a leading freight depot will result, one with greatly enhanced aesthetics and public amenity to the site that exists now.”
Spotswood Ward councillor and member of the committee, Cr Bill Baarini, said he understood that local residents had been notified about the works by VicTrack through letters, the community liaison committee and media releases.
He said traffic management was discussed with VicRoads, which approved the traffic management plan associated with the project.
“The council is concerned about the impact of potential lane closures in Melbourne Rd and has requested that these be avoided during peak hour times,” he said.
A VicTrack spokesman said building the new intersection involved the contractor closing a single south bound lane of Melbourne Rd for the duration of the works, currently scheduled for between 18 July and 14 September.”
“Other intermittent lane closures may also occur off-peak between 9.30am and 3pm. Motorists are being advised to be alert to signage regarding traffic conditions,” he said.
•A meeting about the site and works is being held 6.30pm tomorrow in the Spotswood Primary School library.
