Protest ‘escalates’: Bridge objectors target politicians and media

TOM BENNETT
ANGRY Clifton Springs’ residents have vowed to step-up protests against a controversial Griggs Creek Bridge after more than 100 attended a public meeting against the project.
Residents’ spokesman Gary Dean described the meeting as a “fantastic turnout” to adopt a detailed strategy for escalating the protest.
“The impact of this proposed bridge on the lives of residents would be too great for us to go easy (on opposing the bridge) at this stage,” Mr Dean said.
“If we don’t do something now we’ll have to live with it forever”.
Mr Dean said protesters would canvas all federal, state and local government representatives serving the Bellarine Peninsula via an intensive letter and email campaign.
Politicians in the protesters’ sights included Bellarine MP Lisa Neville, federal Member for Corio Richard Marles, state Upper House MP David Koch and Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
“We’ll be putting our case very strongly, especially to those members who hold their seats by small margins,” Mr Dean said.
He warned that MPs who ignored the residents would do so “at their own peril”.
Mr Dean said protesters were also seeking meetings with the mayor, councillors and City Hall’s planning department to further push their case.
“It seems to us the mayor and the councillors are not fully aware of what’s going on here.
“The whole bridge project is being driven by the planning department.”
Mr Dean said the protest would also go to Melbourne media to ensure it covered the “story”.
The proposed Griggs Creek Bridge would service parts of a new Bayswater Estate at Clifton Springs to provide land for 3300 houses accommodating up to 8000 people.
Residents want council to halt the subdivision until alternative road infrastructure was in place for vehicle access.
Mr Dean said a preliminary meeting with a municipal delegation this week confirmed the “worst fears” of residents.
“We were told no alternative road access will be constructed until at least 151 houses had been built in the northern section of the Bayswater Estate – and that could be years away”.
Mr Dean said residents were concerned the proposed bridge would funnel up to 3000 cars a day on narrow roads through residential areas around Bayshore Ave and Kewarra Dve.
“That would seriously downgrade the quality of life of many residents,” he said.