By NATALIE GALLENTI
A FRUSTRATED Burnside Heights home owner is claiming residents, businesses and local traffic is being adversely affected by the standstill surrounding the Westwood Drive road and bridge construction.
The resident, who did not want to be named, told Star that local businesses, particularly those located on Ballarat Rd, Burnside, would be thriving if the road and bridge, providing a direct link between Burnside Heights and Taylors Hill, was finally constructed.
However, Melton City Council’s hands are effectively tied on the issue with no result in sight.
Last December the council awarded the Westwood Drive road and bridge contract to cut and fill the site and preliminary works started earlier this year. But these were stopped in their tracks after the council was issued a stop work notice by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
Melton City Council’s general manager for planning and development Luke Shannon said the AAV were of the view that works were occurring in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity without an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan in place.
“At this point, all work was stopped until such time as the cultural heritage issues were resolved,” Mr Shannon said.
“Prior to commencing works, council had received advice from a heritage consultant that council had addressed cultural heritage requirements for the site.”
Mr Shannon told Star the council has been in ongoing negotiations with the AAV in relation to approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan since the issue of the stop-work notice.
“The construction of the Westwood Drive road and bridge is an extremely important project for council and the community and one that we are strongly committed to,” he said.
“Council will continue to work with AAV until the matter is resolved.”
The Burnside Heights resident said locals deserved to know what is happening in their area as many had bought real estate believing that Westwood Drive would be a link through the eastern corridor.
“It affects so many people … a road would give greater access to so many retail outlets, schools and would ease traffic congestion,” the resident told Star.
“For some people it’s easier to travel to Taylors Lakes, which isn’t in the City of Melton, to shop, instead of shopping locally.”
