By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
PLACES Victoria and Greater Dandenong Council are being urged to remove an “eyesore” of weedy soil heaps outside a housing estate ‘gateway’ to Dandenong.
The Cheltenham Road soil pile, a by-product of works at 3175 Metro Village, has resulted in a months-long stand-off between the landholder, Greater Dandenong Council, and the state government developer.
Greater Dandenong councillor Jim Memeti — with the backing of the council — wants the eyesore cleaned up, claiming it poses a safety and fire hazard.
“A couple of months ago, I asked for the council to get Places Victoria to clean them up. The soil is still there looking very unsightly.
“If one of our residents or business owners owned it, the council would be taking further action against them. It’s a gateway to Dandenong and passed by thousands of people.”
Places Victoria told the Journal that, as part of a partnership deed with the council, the council was “aware that the soil is necessary for the site’s future development”.
Greater Dandenong chief executive John Bennie said the best way to resolve the dispute was “reminding Places Victoria of the terms of the agreement”.
He said the mounds should be “tidied up” — that is lowered but not totally removed.
Last week, a council spokeswoman said there was nothing further to add.
But Cr Memeti said the council was advised that Places Victoria would lower the mounds, and seed them with grass to make them more attractive. “My next question is when are they going to do it?” he said.
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