Hey everyone,

I've been speaking with the Council infrastructure team about the footpath, and received a response today. I'll copy it below. I assume everyone else is as frustrated about it as I am - essentially they're saying there won't be a footpath installed, only the rough gravel path that's there now, and if we want to go from the older side of the estate to Bunnings / Officeworks etc, we need to go via the bridge to Toomuc Valley Road, or via the new paths once it opens ... over a very big hill! 

I personally think this is a terrible expectation - we either need to go 30+ minutes out of our way for what should be a 15 minute walk, or go over a hill (impossible for any physically impaired people), or continue through the unsafe paths in the industrial area. There's no common sense about it.

My next plan is to contact the Pakenham newspaper and see if they'd be interested in a story. I'd also like to invite Cr Stephanie Davies to join me on a walk so she can see how bad the path is currently. If there is anyone with a physical disability who would be available/interested to join as well, please email me (caitlin@wintaur.com) - I think it's valuable for her to see how much it impacts different users. 

Thanks
Caitlin 

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Email from Council: 

Our traffic engineers have advised that as per the map below, the temporary red route will cease to exist in two places in the future (marked by red crosses) and these will not be available for ultimate use.   Permit conditions stipulate that the estate developer must remove this when an alternative is available.  It is unusual and undesirable to have residential areas accessing through industrial areas, however in order to facilitate the development of Mt Pleasant Estate, early temporary access was permitted through the industrial area, subject to it being removed when alternate access becomes available. 

Please note that the red route will not be removed prior to the green route being completed, as the developers permit requires an alternative to be provided.  The green route you have drawn will be an alternative that will be available when the (approved) pink development proceeds. It is acknowledged that it is quite steep as the Mt Pleasant Estate is built on the side of a hill. 

There is however, a less hilly route via the bridge to Toomuc Valley Road, as drawn in blue, that exists and is a permanent connection through much easier terrain. 

It is anticipated there may also be another route (drawn in orange), via the East to West minor collector roads, that will ultimately connect with both the extension of O’Brien Road and Thewlis Road further west, however, there are a number of properties that will need to be developed for this link to be completed at some stage in the future.