By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A FOOTPATH connecting aged-care residents in Noble Park to a nearby hotel has been “stuffed up”, a councillor claims.
Maria Sampey, whose mother lives at Darvall Lodge residential care home, said the recently completed $60,000 footpath connecting Ambrie Crescent to Sandown Park Hotel climbed a needless “big mound of sandy soil”.
The ascent also has a noticeable camber.
She said the climb created strain for people pushing wheelchairs and prams, who also must negotiate steep kerbside ramps on their journey.
“[They] obviously did not see the big picture for the residents who have a disability in our city,” Cr Sampey said.
“They just had to level off the ground rather than leave this big lump. They didn’t put much thought into it.
“A lot of money will also go down the drain when we have a heavy downpour of rain and the footpath will crack and buckle [due to the sandy soil foundation].”
Cr Sampey said the footpath had been overdue by six months.
The council should have the contractor rectify the long-awaited footpath for no charge, she said.
In a letter to Greater Dandenong Council in 2011, Mulgrave MP and state Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews had requested the footpath extension.
In a reply in March 2011, he was told by Greater Dandenong engineering services director Bruce Rendall the footpath would be built by June 2012. The footpath was completed in recent weeks.
Mr Rendall said the footpath’s “small mound” would be retained to discourage rat-running drivers between Corrigan Road and Princes Highway.
This protected the amenity of Racecourse Road residents. He said the footpath met “relevant accessibility standards — council officers are happy to meet with the concerned resident to discuss their concerns directly”.
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