By Violet Li
Casey Council is calling on the State Government to fund the intersection projects on declared arterial roads in the Croskell Employment Precinct.
The Croskell Employment Precinct, the 317 hectares bounded by Thompsons Road to the north, Berwick Cranbourne Road to the east, and Narre Warren Cranbourne Road to the west, is proposed to deliver over 6500 jobs, along with a mix of housing and community facilities.
According to the officers’ report by Casey Council, the Department of Transport and Planning maintains that the council should be the development agency responsible for the intersection projects on declared arterial roads within the precinct, including Thompsons Road, Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road.
City of Casey’s manager growth and investment, Kathryn Seirlis said that given the complexity around some of the arterial roads in this part of the south-east, the department should be the agent responsible and fund any costs of project delivery above that funded by the Infrastructure Contributions Plan.
“This will ensure that the council will not be put in a position to fund shortfalls in the cost of project delivery, which could divert funds from vital community projects,” she said.
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is preparing to incorporate the precinct’s Structural Plan and Infrastructure Contributions Plan into the Casey Planning Scheme.
Ms Seirlis said the VPA would refer any unresolved matters for hearing by the VPA Projects Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) in early 2025.
“Council will continue to work with the Victorian Planning Authority and advocate that the department must be the development agency responsible for delivering ICP intersection projects,” she said.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said: “We will continue to work with the City of Casey to deliver important transport infrastructure for the community in accordance with the agreed Croskell Precinct Structure Plan.”
The Corskell Employment Precinct Structure Plan is currently open for feedback: engage.vic.gov.au/croskellemployment
