By Goya Dmytryshchak
Hobsons Bay council has refused to grant a state government contractor permission to block several streets for construction of the West Gate Tunnel.
Hobsons Bay’s infrastructure and city services director Sanjay Manivasagasivam told last week’s council meeting that several requests had been received for construction vehicle access through local roads.
He said the council had refused some of the requests due to a resolution passed at its July 10 meeting, which stated in part that local streets and roads were not to be blocked to local traffic during construction.
“I can give you one example,” Mr Manivasagasivam said.
“One of them is The Avenue, the closure of The Avenue for underground powerline works.
“That’s the submission we got from the contractor, so we have refused that as per the council resolution previously. However, if it’s on the other side, because it’s a different contractor, we would have given that approval.”
The council heard there were “practical difficulties” in implementing a blanket ban on road closures because of the size of the project.
The council is continuing to advocate for on and off ramps at Grieve Parade and Dohertys Road to be included in the project, to mitigate truck traffic on Millers Road.
It previously resolved to demand “premium rates” from the government to compensate for “occupation” of its land to build the tunnel.
The council has demanded the government immediately start the design and construction of a pavilion promised at Donald McLean Reserve.
The council has also insisted that storm water harvesting for irrigation be included in open space projects such as Donald McLean Reserve, Westgate Golf Club, Brooklyn Reserve, Crofts Reserve and Hosken Reserve.
