Building woes

By Melissa Grant
A NEW building in Pakenham’s retail heartland is causing a headache for traders and motorists, the head of the town’s business group says.
Exposed wires, broken guttering, unfinished plaster, wiring and poor wheelchair and scooter access at the site has Pakenham Business Group (PBG) president Michael Porter seeing red.
Mr Porter is gob smacked that the building, at the corner of John and James streets, ever got approved and is raising the issue to help ensure future developments also don’t end up a “shemozzle.”
“How did it ever get approved on a corner site?” he asked. “The signage blocks vision of cars – it’s just an eyesore.”
The council refused the original application but the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) overturned the decision.
The council later approved a permit application to change the use from office and shops to a mix of restaurant and retail. The restaurant has since pulled out of the site.
A set of stairs was removed from the site, after residents expressed concern about access to the building, which is raised about a metre above ground level.
In January, Cardinia Shire Council general manager Phil Walton said council staff had inspected the building before Christmas and found there were a number of discrepancies between the works done and the approved plans.
And although a ramp was constructed in place of the stairs, Mr Porter said access was still poor and caused safety issues.
“The ramp had plenty of room to go in – it should have been closer to the building so you can go around,” he said.
“With the ramp, pedestrian access is being pushed 20 metres up that road (John Street). People don’t expect to see pedestrians crossing there(to the library); they expect to see them when they’re turning the corner.”
It is believed the building was elevated in response to a request from Melbourne Water, to ensure protection from any damage in the event of a flood.
A council safety traffic audit had found the intersection to be safe.
Mr Porter was hopeful the site could at least be cleaned.
“I haven’t seen a site-clean yet,” he said. “There’s one shop open and it (the building) still looks like a construction site.”