Fight on for footpath

By Lia Bichel
CRANBOURNE South residents want to go for a walk or ride their bikes without fearing for their lives.
Almost 90 active residents signed a petition asking Casey Council to implement a new footpath after their man-made walking track was destroyed to make room for the $30 million state Cranbourne-Frankston Road duplication.
Acting project director David Lewis said VicRoads was catering for cyclists.
They have built a shared user path between Hall Road and Brookland Greens Boulevard and are constructing on-road bicycle lanes between Brookland Greens Boulevard and Pearcedale Road and sealed shoulders between Pearcedale Road and Western Port Highway.
But Mr Dean said residents, from Woodlands Road, Stanhill Drive and Chevron Avenue, need a separate track which is not joined to the road.
“We are not opposed to the duplication,” he said. “But no-one should have to walk on the road. There are a lot of young families coming into the area with young babies. Women are on the roads pushing prams, young kids are on bikes.”
Mr Dean said he had spoken with VicRoads officials on a number of occasions, but was told the footpath was the council’s responsibility.
The council accepted the 89-signature petition on 19 May.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon told the News the next step was for the council to request an onsite meeting with Vic Roads and the residents to discuss the footpath and its location.
“The council has accepted the petition and has been working in the background on this issue prior to this,” she said.
“The footpath is vital for the community. It will be beneficial for families, enabling parents and their children to access the local park, it would be good for health and well-being, accommodating walkers and joggers and good for the environment, enabling residents to walk in to Cranbourne and neighbouring Brookland Greens, leaving the car at home.”
Mr Dean said he was pleased that the council had accepted the petition and hoped they acted quickly.
“I believe this is a very important issue and one that needs to be addressed during the construction of the road,” Rob Dean said.
“It should be done while the machinery is readily available.”
Construction between Brookland Greens Boulevard and Western Port Highway is expected to be completed in early 2010.