Cranbourne residents Jean, Faith, Chris, Doris, Ken, Gloria, Eileen, Michael and Ruth want Casey Council to construct a footpath to connect them to the town centre. By Alison Noonan
RESIDENTS in Cranbourne’s The Avenues Estate claim they feel ‘marooned’ because of a lack of footpath access to the town centre.
Local Jean Perry said almost every house in the BerwickCranbourne Road estate had signed a petition calling for the construction of two paths allowing pedestrians safe passage to Sladen Street or nearby shops and schools.
Mrs Perry said residents were forced to cross through a “ploughedup field area” to get into town, which was both dangerous and impractical for strollers, bicycles and wheelchairs.
“The footpaths should have been constructed when the estate was first built.
“There are many families in this estate with kids that attend the local schools and many have long complained about the need for a footpath into town,” she said.
Mrs Perry said that while she was collecting signatures for the petition to present to Casey Council, a resident complained that her elderly mother had fallen on an incline after having to cross the opposite side of BerwickCranbourne Road.
The resident said her mother would no longer venture out on her own after the fall.
“I have been asking and asking for a safe path since last year,” Mrs Perry said.
“I was initially told we may have a gravel path constructed but gravel is no good for prams and wheelchairs.
“While we’re struggling to get concrete paths council is spending loads of money on projects elsewhere in Casey.
“It seems so unfair and I’m fed up,” she said.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler raised the issue at last week’s council meeting, claiming residents felt isolated from the rest of Cranbourne.
“Obviously this is a path that’s been forgotten.
“The best place for residents to cross the road to get into High Street is the roundabout on BerwickCranbourne Road, but they need a footpath to get them there,” he said.
Cr Butler said he was hopeful that surplus funds from last year’s budget could be allocated to the construction of the paths, which would connect the roundabout to the existing path in the service road fronting the estate as well as a second connection to Jagger Circuit.
“The path is ranked higher than any other on the Linking Paths Program for the next five years and higher than one of the paths that is to be constructed this year.
“I am hopeful that it will be funded in the next budget because of its high ranking.
“The sooner it’s constructed the better for residents,” he said.
