Group gears for fight

By Melissa Meehan
OPPOSITION to the proposed Dingley Arterial alignment has stepped up a notch.
The Save Coomoora Recreation Reserve Coalition has written a letter to State Planning Minister Justin Madden demanding an Environmental Effects Study (EES) be done before construction begins.
Group spokesman Damon Anderson said the threat posed by the Dingley Arterial project would see the cultural importance of the area lost.
The project involves the construction of a four lane, 3.5 kilometre dual carriage extension off Westall Road from Springvale Road to the Dandenong Bypass.
In the letter Mr Anderson writes “We do not oppose the construction of the Dingley Bypass in toto, rather we object to the construction of the shorter section of the Dingley Bypass… which would run directly through Coomoora Woodland Flora and Fauna Reserve… and a registered Aboriginal cultural heritage place.”
The letter also makes reference to a fauna survey of the area made in late 1983 that recorded a number of then rare and now potentially endangered species including three bat species, short-nosed bandicoots, swift parrots, growling grass frogs, grey-haired flying foxes and grass skinks.
Mr Anderson said the range and complexity of other potentially adverse environmental effects remained unclear and that was why an EES was necessary.
“It appears that the current plan required some raising of the land where the road passes Coomoora Reserve – if the road is to be built on a raised platform it could have a serious effect on the hydrology of the reserve,” he said. “Which could have an adverse effect on Growling Grass Frogs in the area.”
He also said the lack of public information in regards to many issues on the road plan was frustrating.
“A more creative and far-sighted approach to planning is needed,” he said. “There are viable alternatives and those would allow us to create an integrated environmental and cultural heritage park incorporating the reserve and Aboriginal heritage sites.”