Helensburgh & District News

April 2007 - Vol.17 No.3

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Rotten road left to rot

By Michelle Neathercote

The proposed repair of a road described by locals and other users as of ‘third world standard’ now faces an undecided future following Council’s sudden withdrawal of funds.
The long awaited repairs to Lower Coast Road in Stanwell Park that have been on Wollongong City Council’s high priority list, were recently placed in limbo by Council’s Northern Divisional Engineer, Ms Kathleen Packer. The decision follows a community meeting that was also attended by Councillor(s) Alice Cartan and David Martin.
During the meeting, Ms Packer was questioned about the project’s approach to drainage, the potential environmental impacts to nearby waterways and the project’s aesthetics and costs. Under the proposal, owners with properties adjacent to the road are liable for thousands of dollars towards the curbing and guttering component of the project.
As a result of concerns raised at the meeting, Ms Packer then wrote a letter to owners, that stated, ‘It is still my assertion that the design from council’s civil design section is the best solution for the road. As I received so much negative feedback from the proposal I am postponing this project.’
Community meeting organisers described Council’s written response to the community meeting as a ‘dummy spit’.
“We all agree that something needs to be done about the road with its maintenance and resurfacing. All we were asking was for the same standard as other nearby streets, rather than a suburban style approach of rolled kerbs which don’t blend in with the majority of streets in Stanwell Park,” said Steve Barrett, a resident on Lower Coast Road.
Another owner, who was in support of Council’s original proposal, has written to Ms Packer to say he had concerns about the ‘procedural fairness surrounding the decision to postpone the repairs’.
His letter stated, “We believe local owners and residents are entitled to seek clarification around any project affecting their properties and to make suggestions that are given reasonable consideration. This is not unreasonable when owners are being asked to make a significant financial contribution.”
There has been many years of correspondence from residents to council about the road’s inadequate drainage that results in stagnant pools of dirty water for weeks. Many are concerned about the potentially serious health implications, especially as children on bikes and mothers with prams use the road as there are no footpaths.
Councillor Alice Cartan acknowledges that the road is problematic and said that there had been a discussion with Ms Packer about the reaction from local property owners.
“It is not council’s intention to alienate residents but it has to build a road that will survive and if sides are left without proper edges and sealing, the road will fail,” said Ms Cartan.
“The unexpected delay meant Council needed to quickly divert the staff and working teams lined up for that job to another project in Patterson Rd at Coalcliff.”
Ms Cartan denied that the road would now be ignored but that Council was having a ‘re-think’ about the project.
Council’s media unit advised that ‘residents will receive a letter from Council in the ensuing weeks to advise them that the funds will be allocated in the upcoming financial year and that consultation will continue’.