Homes backed, bridge opposed

KIM WATERS
Residents have welcomed a new residential development at Clifton Springs but fear a proposed bridge to the land could ruin their quiet streets, according to an objector.
John Boland said the residents of Bayshore Avenue and Kewarra Street were worried about the bridge directing “hundreds” of vehicles past their homes each day.
“We aren’t against the development. The land was always going to be built up and, honestly, we think it’s marvellous, so nobody is worried about that.
“The concern is the position of this bridge and its effect on the neighborhood.”
Mr Boland said residents gathered a petition with 244 signatures against an initial 2008 plan for the bridge over Grigg Creek to Clifton Springs’ Jetty Road growth area.
But a new sign on fencing at the end of Bayshore Avenue recently announced the resumption of the bridge approval process.
“The reason we were against it in the first place was that the streets are too small to be considered a main road out of the estate.”
Councillor Rod Macdonald assured residents that “a number of provisions” in planning for bridge would help maintain the amenity of their neighbourhood.
The provisions included road network designs to “discourage” traffic other than local vehicles from using the bridge, he said.
The bridge would also be off limits to heavy construction traffic.
Cr Macdonald said a bridge planning permit application would probably go to a hearings panel after council attracted 35 objections.