By AIDAN KNIGHT
APRIL’S Latrobe City Council meeting brought forward multiple community consultations for resident to have their say.
Budgeree Ward councillor Leanne Potter opted to move item 11.2 of the Corporate Items before Mayor Sharon Gibson (Newborough Ward) had finished naming it, and was noted as such to move the motion.
The item concerned the request to purchase council land from the Department of Education, for the purpose of developing an early learning centre in Heesom Crescent, Churchill.
Cr Potter saw this as an opportune location, thanks to to it’s 550 metre distance from Churchill Primary School – less than a 10-minute walk. Council wished to put out a community consultation to see if the proposal received a yay or nay from the public, to lose 6554m2 of Watson Park.
“Many of the community will know this site really well,” Cr Potter detailed, “it’s the former home of the old Watson Park preschool.”
“Childcare places in Churchill are genuinely quite scarce, so families in our community are forced to drive to Morwell and Traralgon just to access these services.”
There are currently three centres located within Churchill, and two of them are not accepting enrolments.
“It’s a real burden on families, on their budgets, their family time – Churchill really needs this,” Cr Potter continued.
“Navigating the transition from care into school. This site makes that possible in ways that few other locations could.”
Yallourn Ward’s Cr Steph Morgan commended her colleague on her enthusiasm for the motion, as well as council’s intention to follow through on the sale of land.
“If there is concern of selling off our public open space, I’d say don’t be concerned,” she said.
“Considering this portion of land makes up only 0.036 per cent of our current open space (in the township) – it’s a very small parcel of land for such a positive impact.”
Cr Morgan welcomed any feedback from the community, nevertheless.
Moe Ward Cr Adele Pugsley echoed both sentiments, and shared her own perspective.
“As a working parent, I know how difficult it can be to secure reliable childcare – and safe childcare – for young children,” she said.
The vote was unanimously in favour.
COMMUNITY consultation will also go out for the potential road closure of Old Melbourne Road, Morwell, due to increased illegal dumping, hooning and vandalism in the area. Also impacted in the proposal is part of Toners Lane, where the two intersect.
Cr Morgan moved this motion, saying it has been prompted by a request from EnergyAustralia, who were concerned with antisocial behaviour.
Council determined that the upkeep of this road, while open, incurs substantial cost and would become a concern for ratepayers should it continue. The proposal would affect a total of 3km of unsealed surface and 1km sealed.
Old Melbourne Rd has been subject to consideration for closure by council since 2011, which was initially voted down, but the issues plaguing the stretch have increased over the past 15 years. The originally floated closure also affected a wider area, including sections of Maxwell Morrisons Rd, and several subdivision roads.
Cr Morgan made sure to emphasis the community’s response to the proposal would shape the outcome, and that she’d be interested to hear who the closure might impact.
“I know there has been a lot of discussion since the agenda was made public by some in our historical communities,” she said.
According to council estimates, annual maintenance costs for unsealed roads are about $1086 per kilometre, with renewal costs reaching $151,433 per km. For sealed roads, maintenance costs are around $2560 per km, with renewal costs around $285,410. Additionally, the cost of removing illegally dumped rubbish is rising, estimated at $250 per hour for collection and disposal.
This also received a positively unanimous vote, and all feedback received will be considered at a future council meeting before a final decision is made.
