Road

By Justin Robertson
During the floods the 200-metre stretch of road lost all of its gravel. It got swept up and washed away down the street where nature strips, shops and backyards absorbed the rocky debris, leaving the road stripped bare and exposing dozens of potholes.
With the wintry months approaching, Mr Pawley can only see the road getting worse.
“I’m fed up,” Mr Pawley said. “We have to pay our rates accordingly and they won’t do their bloody job – that’s my whole beef.”
Mr Pawley has been to the shire in person five times since February to report the damage that has been inflicted on Mill Street and was told by a representative they had “allocated work to priority roads”.
It’s not the first time he or a resident of Mill Street has approached the council with this gripe. Last September council received a petition from Mill Street residents expressing concern about increased usage on the unmade road.
Outlook Environment – a not-for-profit community-based business that backs on to Mill Street – advised the council that they’d be using the street as a secondary access during weekdays.
According to Mr Pawley the traffic has increased, adding to the road’s ailments. Outlook Environment contract manager Bryan Paynter said they rarely used Mill Street as a priority entry point.
Central Ward councillor Brett Owen said while Mill Street was one of only a few streets remaining in the Pakenham township still yet to be re-filled with gravel, council had proposed a “street charge scheme” that would fix the road.
“We still need to consult further with landowners,” he said. “But I urge all residents to reply to the formal letter we’ll be sending out asking them to contribute to repairing the road.”
The council won’t fully fund the scheme and construction, leaving the ratepayers to fork out as much as $10,000 per property for a new stretch of road. If residents choose to buy into the scheme, they can expect a smooth constructed and sealed bitumen road.
Cr Owen said last month residents on Mill Street were sent a survey to help get a better understanding of their concerns.
“It was an opportunity to voice their opinions on the street,” he said. “But eight residents failed to respond.”
Council will require all residents to respond to their next scheme mail-out. If it’s not well supported the road won’t get fixed.
“ A greater response will be vital when the council determines whether it continues with the scheme or not,” Cr Owen said.
“The only way the road will be filled is if residents will contribute to the cost. If council decides not to go ahead with the special charge scheme, then Mill Street will remain a dirt road.”