Don Atkins is one of the residents who objected to a permit by the Pakenham Golf Club to beautify the Oaktree Drive side of the course. 76959
By Danielle Galvin and Bridget Scott
RESIDENTS in Oaktree Drive are sick of the “Afghani landscape” at the site of the Pakenham Golf Club but have rejected an application by the club to beautify the side of the fairway.
The golf club applied for a planning permit in December to build 2.5 metre high dirt mounds.
Cardinia Shire Council notified residents of the application during the Christmas period.
On Tuesday, the president of the club, Rob Nobelius, fielded questions from angry residents about the club’s plans.
He apologised at the start of the meeting for failing to consult residents about the original permit but said that the project would improve the look of the drive.
“We’ve amended the plans and designs and we’ve catered to the boundary,” he said.
“We want to work with the residents but need to work for the golf club as well.”
About 40 residents from Oaktree Drive went to the meeting hosted by Mr Nobelius and the contractor employed to carry out the earthworks, Craig Watson.
Cardinia Shire councillors George Blenkhorn and Collin Ross represented the council at the meeting.
Cr Blenkhorn said that itwas a “historical situation” and he urged residents to form a committee before making any rash decisions.
“This plan has to be passed by the council,” he said.
“We have to consider what the golf club proposes and what you want.”
Former road contractor Don Atkins has lived in Oaktree Drive for 32 years.
He said that co-operation between the club, the council and residents would mean that an agreement could be reached.
“Everyone is concerned – we are looking for a guarantee it would be better maintained,” he said.
Mr Atkins said that the piles of dirt, overgrown grass and weeds along the side of the course had been there for 30 years and it was an eyesore.
“The golf club started as a paddock.
“They received fill and it was dumped there and never really moved.
“Since then it has grown over, with blackberries and weeds, nothing has been done,” he said.
Newcomer to the street Russell Pickton said that he was disgusted by the original plan to build a 2.5 metre high earth wall.
“We just moved down from the country. We had rural views of the golf club,” he said.
The former Mansfield resident moved to the area to be closer to his adult children.
Mr Pickton and his wifesettled in Oaktree Drive six months ago after looking to buy a house in Tooradin and Upper Pakenham.
While he said that the artist’s impression of the plan was impressive, he was concerned that the final outcome would look very different.
“The plan looks absolutely brilliant but we know that it’s not going to end up like that,” Mr Pickton said.
Mr Nobelius said at the conclusion of the meeting that it was important that the club moved forward.
“I don’t really like it the way it is, either,” he said.
Contractor Craig Watson said the beautification project would take eight to nine weeks depending on the weather.
“We shape the dirt, it’s not just going to be four metres of dirt,” he said.
“It’s very aesthetic and nice.”
The application is before the council.
