A Caroline Springs resident is urging the building of a long-awaited Westwood Drive extension and bridge, saying the traffic situation is now “beyond a joke”.
Resident Norm Cogger said there was “one way in and out” of Caroline Springs and as the population grew, traffic congestion was getting out of hand. “It’s a nightmare. From 8-9am to 3-4pm it’s bedlam, completely bottlenecked,” he said. “We need that bridge to get out.”
The road extension and bridge he’s referring to would be a direct link between Burnside and Taylors Hill.
It would require construction of about 780 metres of two-lane road between Tenterfield Drive and Fydler Avenue and an additional 70 metres of bridge over Kororoit Creek.
But in December last year, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) served a stop-work notice on Melton council for its construction, declaring the council was “carrying out an activity which is harming, or is likely to harm, Aboriginal cultural heritage”. The AAV cited the presence of small stone artefacts that may have been used by Aborigines as cutting instruments.
“We’ve been stunned by this decision . . . we respect and value indigenous heritage,” Melton mayor Bob Turner said at the time. “We work with and appreciate the input of the Wurundjeri people on a range of council issues.”
A spokesman said Melton council was committed to building the bridge. “All AAV requirements were satisfied before construction started. There’s no desire or motivation from council to delay [its] completion.”
Melton council has terminated the contract with the constructor, but remains hopeful the issues can be resolved.
