ABOUT 50 people put Keysborough South in the spotlight at a fiery forum on Wednesday 11 November.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan said frustration arose about the lack of community infrastructure in the area.
Hot topics included the Keysborough South Community Hub project, the Tatterson Community Sports Complex project and lobbying for a school and a bus route.
Cr Kirwan said construction of the Tatterson Park Community Sports Complex would start mid-next year and the public could comment on hub design concepts early next year.
“Planisphere Consultants were on hand to talk to residents more about the hub to aid in coming up with those design concepts,” he said.
Cr Kirwan said residents were also glad to hear that the education department was considering a P-12 school rather than just a primary school.
“They were frustrated with no definite news yet, though impressed that the joint efforts of the council and the Keysborough South Community Action Group is building momentum on this issue,” he said.
Cr Kirwan said there were also positive signs on the bus route push, with Public Transport Victoria announcing a workshop on the issue at Keysborough College Acacia Campus, 28 Isaac Road, Keysborough, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 18 November.
Keysborough South Action Group spokeswoman Nina Kelly co-presented with the council on the bus route and school campaigns.
She said residents asked about the possibility of a swimming pool for Keysborough, pointing out that the original Tatterson Park master plan from the 1990s included water pipes for a swimming pool.
“That is why the building is set so far back from Cheltenham Road,” Ms Kelly said.
Also in the spotlight were traffic issues on Chapel Road, particularly at the roundabout shared with Church Road and Donnici Drive.
“Traffic is backing up down all three roads for a minimum of five minutes, waiting for the lights to change at Dandenong Bypass during peak hour,” Ms Kelly said.
“Only about 70 per cent of new housing construction is finished along Church Road.”
Other issues raised included transport companies using Chapel Road to avoid paying EastLink tolls to reach their depot, and a lack of Melbourne Water maintenance on waterways.
Ms Kelly met with South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich on 6 November.
On 10 November, Ms Peulich asked Education Minister James Merlino in Parliament “what plans are afoot to develop the capacity of the local area to cater for the growth, and are there any time lines for the construction of a new school, which is clearly needed, especially given the growth in the Keysborough area?”
Community Hub building consultation will start with an online survey and pop-up event Parkmore Shopping Centre from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 28 November.
The council is also welcoming discussion at www.facebook.com/groups/keysboroughsouth.
