By Eleanor Wilson
Community lobbying for an improved footpath in Pakenham has intensified after plans to remove the footpath altogether were revealed by council.
Local resident Caitlin Wintaur said the gravel footpath along Mulcahy Road, between Studd Road and O’Brien Parade, is “barely passable” due to the uneven gravel, debris and overgrown grass along the narrow stretch.
The path gives residents in the Mt Pleasant Estate off Toomuc Valley Road access to local amenities, including cafes and a swim school.
But Mrs Wintaur said the current path is uneven, narrow and not accessible for wheelchair and pram users.
As a result, many residents are forced to walk on along the road instead, which is frequented by large trucks due to the industrial nature of the area.
“At night time, it is especially dangerous, as there are no streetlights, so pedestrians are near-invisible to passing road traffic,” Mrs Wintaur said.
“The path is overgrown with weeds and snakes have regularly been seen along there which is unsafe for humans and dogs.“
A change.org petition set up by Mrs Wintaur one month ago to raise awareness surrounding the issue has received over 130 signatures, with fellow residents echoing appeals for a safer footpath.
“I often find people walking on the middle of Mulcahy Road at night,“ said one petition signee.
“It’s very hard to see these pedestrians and as a driver you may end up running over someone at night due to poor visibility due to low lighting around and multiple vehicles parked on both sides of the road.
“We need better lighting and a proper footpath to keep everyone safe.“
When Mrs Wintaur approached Cardinia Shire Council to request an improvement to the track, she claims she was told that the path from Mt Pleasant Estate down Studd Road to Mulcahy Road would be removed completely.
This would cut off pedestrian access via Studd Road to Mulcahy Road, with the alternative routes taking residents over the creek to Toomuc Valley Road and then back around through the industrial estate, or over the existing Studd Road hill via O’Brien Parade.
The latter, Mrs Wintaur said, would not a viable option for anyone with a physical disability, or anyone unable to walk such a steep hill such as elderly people, or someone pushing a pram.
It would also stretch a five minute walk to local amenities out to a 45 minute journey by foot, she said.
Despite this, Cardinia Shire Council community infrastructure manager David Fice said the footpath would only be terminated on Mulcahy Road, not Studd Road.
“Council has no plans to remove the existing concrete footpath on the eastern side of Stud Road that connects Mt Pleasant Estate to the area around Mulcahy Road in Pakenham,“ he said.
Regardless, Ms Wintaur said she was frustrated by the predicament.
“It’s definitely frustrating because it’s such a simple thing to have a footpath to connect your home to other parts of the suburb,” Mrs Wintaur said.
She said the path was in contradiction to the council’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategy, which outlines the importance of all abilities access to footpaths in the shire.
“On paper they have these principles and guidelines they in theory abide by, but then there’s a 100-metre stretch of footpath they don’t seem to want to help us with, which goes directly against those guidelines.“
Mulcahy Road cafe Nancy Eatery is one amenity which could be impacted by the planned footpath removal.
Nancy Eatery manager Meagan Mackinnon said she was concerned about how the changes would impact foot traffic to the cafe.
“I think it’s ridiculous, especially when there’s a housing estate literally being built across the street,“ she said.
“At the end of the day, I think its gonna impact a lot of things.
“We are not exactly on a main road, so if that path was removed I don’t see people walking here to come to us at all.“
Mr Fice said development within Mt Pleasant Estate in Pakenham is carried out in line with the Cardinia Road Precinct Structure Plan.
“The existing crushed rock footpath on the south side of Mulcahy Road was built as a temporary pedestrian path until further development in the area takes place,“ Mr Fice said.
“It is likely that in the future this path will be redeveloped as a concrete path, but this will depend on how the area develops and what planning permits are put in place.“
The issue was also put forward to Cardinia Shire councillors at a council meeting on Monday 17 July.
The council said “temporary paths” such as the one along Mulcahy Road are put in place to provide interim facilities for the community until future development occurs in the area.
“The intention of these paths is to provide as much pedestrian access and amenity as possible for local residents, and to minimise inconvenience until surrounding development works are completed.”
Mrs Wintaur has engaged with Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, who will soon complete a site visit alongside Cardinia Shire councillors to address the issue.
The change.org petition can be found at bit.ly/3pYcM8f
