By Molly Magennis
Footscray residents are rallying to fight a proposed housing development which they believe will create safety and traffic concerns.
Residents on Park Street have raised concerns about a proposed 14 dwelling development at 104 Gordon Street, Footscray.
Gordon Street is adjacent to Park Street and developers Inland Property have proposed the main vehicle entrance to the development will be via a laneway on Park Street.
Residents are deeply concerned about the Park Street entrance because the street is already a busy thoroughfare.
Tom, one of the residents taking action against the development, said he was disappointed no community consultation had taken place.
“The residents were quite disappointed with that,” he said.
“[Seeing as the proposed] access [is] through Park Street, there was no letter drops or door knocks or, you know … consultation.”
Tom said the development could cause safety issues in Park Street if approved by Maribyrnong council.
“We’ve got Uber drivers, deliveries, you know, all that sort of stuff, right. We’ve got medical assistants coming in for the elderly,” he said.
“There’s cars in and out of that street, you sit there and just watch just cars [going] up and down, up and down.
“This development will add to the visitors, to cars, to Ubers, to deliveries etcetera.”
Twenty-five residents have submitted an objection to the development and have created a petition, which has been signed by 60 people.
Tom said if the decision is in favour of the developer, the group is prepared to take the issue to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“We haven’t heard from the councillors, no one’s representing us, we’re representing ourselves right now,” he said.
“We’re all very, very hungry to stop this development from going ahead with access to Park Street.”
An Inland Property spokesperson said “residents points and concerns around the new development have been heard and are being considered by council”.
Council was contacted for comment.
