Grove footpaths plan

Jessica Benton
Ocean Grove residents are set to foot half the bill for a series of road and footpath constructions, council has revealed.
City of Greater Geelong’s Darren Martin said council had identified “several” Ocean Grove areas in need of street infrastructure.
“Ocean Grove is one of those older areas of the municipality originally developed with few made roads, kerb and channel or footpaths, so in those places we’re always playing catch up,” he said.
The City had scheduled footpath construction for Ocean Thoroughway between Sunset Strip and Bonnyvale Road and along The Terrace from President’s Avenue to Wallington Road.
The City plans street construction works for The Avenue from Field Street North to Newcomb Street and Wedge, Karri and Newcomb streets.
Thacker Street between Tuckfield and Bramwell streets was set for kerb and channel works.
The Independent reported this month that Ocean Grove ratepayers were protesting a council plan to charge them for new footpaths on Thacker Street.
Resident Pamela Brown was collating a petition to fight a proposed special charge for footpaths and road widening.
Ms Brown had said she believed Thacker Street would be the first in a series of special charge schemes to build footpaths around town.
“I think there are plans to do footpaths all over Ocean Grove but the people of Ocean Grove don’t want footpaths.”
Council plans to charge Thacker Street and nearby residents $302,204.
Council will contribute $210,550 to the $512,754 total cost.
A City statement said distribution of charges was based on frontage width of allotments.
Some property owners faced bills of more than $10,000, with estimated costs ranging from $1181 to $10,092.
Mr Martin said the works plan followed requests from the public.
“Every year we receive many more requests for new roads and footpath infrastructure than can be funded. All requests are considered carefully against safety and connectivity criteria,” he said.
“The highest ranking requests are included in the works program and are usually funded 50 per cent by property owners through a special charge scheme.”
Ratepayers can comment on the Thacker Street special charge in written submissions to the City before Monday.
Council is set to make a decision on the scheme in May.