By DANIELLE GALVIN
A MISSING link in the Heritage Springs estate will be completed next month.
Estate developer Parklea is constructing a pedestrian and bike rail underpass on the east side of the Toomuc Creek that will link developed areas on the north and south of the railway.
Parklea CEO Andrew Herbert said the rail link posed some major geographical boundaries.
“It links up Heritage Springs and that side with everything to the north including the school so that now all of the kids don’t have to cross the rail line and put their lives at risk,” he said.
“We started planning this two years ago.
“It has taken all this time to have the necessary plans approved through all of the various authorities.”
Mr Herbert said it was a necessary step to provide a safe passage for school children and residents from the estate.
“I’ve been on that rail line on inspections, and you don’t necessarily hear a train coming,” he said.
Cardinia Shire Council spokesperson Paul Dunlop said works on the railway underpass were in progress and were due to be completed by end May.
“It will allow connection to the school zones from the south side of the railway and connection to the future Henry Road district reserve from the north side,” he said.
“A missing section of the concrete shared path on the north side of the railway that will complete the link is planned for construction by council in the 2014-15 financial year.”
The project coincides with plans by the Rotary Club of Pakenham to reinvigorate Rotary Park on Princes Highway.
“Rotary is planning to duplicate what was done for Rotary Park in conjunction with the relevant bodies including putting a bridge over Toomuc Creek to join Heritage Springs to the Devine Estate Eden Brook, as well as putting a barbecue and shelter up and planting trees along the footpath, and mulch around the trees on the bank off the creek,” Pakenham Rotary Club president Roger Thornton said.
“It also means people can walk or cycle to Cardinia railway station.”
