Road issue closed

By Bridget Cook
RESIDENTS of Dandenong’s Herbert Street have vowed to “keep fighting” for their street to remain open, after a motion opposing the street’s closure was rejected at a council meeting.
Last month, a majority of councillors voted to keep Herbert Street, between two Dandenong high school campuses, closed during schools hours.
But at Monday night’s meeting, councillor Angela Long moved to overturn last month’s decision, and instead keep the street open and put in place traffic calming measures.
Councillors voted against the rescission and chose to continue with the street closure as the option for the final consultation process.
The closure is to allow safe access across Herbert Street between the existing Dandenong High School and the new Cleeland Secondary College campus, both part of the newly amalgamated Dandenong High School.
Students and teachers are required to cross the road to the different campuses during school hours.
Herbert Street resident Linda Meurs said she was very disappointed at the result of Monday night’s meeting.
“But we are not going to stop fighting, we now plan to take this to the State Government and see what can be done,’ she said.
“We will also make sure the council knows we do not want the closure during the community consultation process.”
Cr Long said she was also disappointed at Monday’s nights result.
“I put the rescission motion in for the residents, and they are very disappointed,” she said.
“I have told the residents if they are not happy with the closure, to make that known in the public consultation flyers.”
Cr Long and the residents both prefer to instead keep the street open at all times and put in place traffic calming measures.
“The school might be happy with the closure but the residents aren’t,” Cr Long said.
“For most of the residents, the time it would be closed is the time they use the road.
“Why should our residents be disadvantaged by something the Education Department has done. Don’t close the road permanently during school hours.”
At last month’s, council meeting, councillor Peter Brown voted for the closure.
“Residents should be careful what they wish for,” Cr Brown said.
“They have the chance to improve the safety of about 1500 children. These are young, vulnerable students who need to be given the greatest level of safety possible.”
Councillors Long, John Kelly, Jim Memeti and Yvonne Herring voted for the rescission motion.
Councillors Brown, Youhorn Chea, Loi Truong, Roz Blades and Pinar Yesil voted against it.
With councillors settling on the closure, the council will now seek the views of all affected stakeholders and report back to the council later this year.