Mayor Colin Butler surveys part of the newly completed Browns Road.By Sarah Schwager
AS MANKS Road residents in Five Ways celebrated the announcement they would not have to pay to seal their road, other rural roads in Casey stepped up their fight on the same issue.
Residents of controversial dirt roads Browns and Devon roads in Devon Meadows joined Manks Road residents in the fight to take the funding out of their hands.
The call came after Casey Council decided to rescind a motion that demanded residents pay a special charge scheme to seal Manks Road, and as the next stage of Browns Road nears completion.
Casey Council mayor Colin Butler said works were well ahead of schedule after the council and the developer agreed to bring construction forward so current users could benefit.
“Drivers now have a safe sealed surface to travel along Browns Road from Craig Road to Pearcedale Road. As a regular user of the road, it’s pleasing to see the work progressing so quickly,” Cr Butler said.
The next stage from Craig Road to the South Gippsland Highway is under construction and is expected to be completed by November.
The final stage from Pearcedale Road to the Western Port Highway will be finished by the middle of next year, marking the completion of the project.
“Not only will users of Browns Road benefit from a high-quality sealed surface, the road will provide a critical link in the road network for residents of Cranbourne South and Devon Meadows,” Cr Butler said.
The Devon Meadows residents are still prepared to fight the special charge scheme every step of the way, saying the scheme is unfair and lobbed on young families and senior citizens who could not afford the extra charges on top of their rates.
Browns Road resident Stephanie Baillie, 62, said she was being charged $15,000 by Casey Council to seal the final section of the road.
A presentation in June by the roads’ resident had no effect on council’s decision to keep the special charge scheme.
The residents are now meeting with federal MPs to address their concerns.
