‘Rude’ response to poser

A DANDENONG resident has slammed City of Greater Dandenong for a “rude, uncaring and untrue” response to his question about beautifying the area.
Phillip John asked a question at the 29 January council meeting – his first in five years of living in the municipality.
He was concerned about Greater Dandenong’s general appearance of stopping people from living there and said more trees could help the situation, highlighting Hammond Road from Cheltenham Road to Dandenong Creek as one location that would benefit.
He asked if the council had any plans to plant trees along the area’s pedestrian strip.
City of Greater Dandenong engineering services director Bruce Rendall said the council managed about 50,000 street trees and had planted about 1400 a year over the past two years “as we have worked to improve the appearance of some of the major gateways and routes throughout the city”.
“I am not sure that there is a lack of street trees as the question indicated,” he said.
“We aim to plant the right trees in the right places. Unfortunately, the location specifically mentioned by Mr John is not the right place.
“It is an extra high volume traffic area with narrow footpaths and essentially there is not enough space for us to accommodate trees.”
He also cited parking, pedestrian and traffic issues.
Mr John said the response was “extremely rude and uncaring” and untrue.
He said the strip was about four metres wide from curb to private land and trees were planted on a nearby narrower section of Cheltenham Road about three months ago – an area he said was also busier than the section he’d indicated.
“It is illegal to park on the nature strip so I am confused how this is an issue,” he said.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Angela Long said Mr John’s question was responded to appropriately, based on the full facts of the current situation in Hammond Road.
“We would all prefer that this section of road presented differently, but under the current constraints this is not possible at this time,” she said.
Cr Long said because the area had been rezoned, opportunities might arise for redevelopment, including beautification works.
“Many parts of our great city are in transition – some have already undergone a facelift, some are going through that cycle, and areas such as this are yet to experience revitalisation,” she said.
“Mr Rendall has offered Mr John a meeting with the council’s qualified staff to discuss the matter, and I would encourage him to take up that offer.”