Fury over road plan

By Jade Lawton
About 150 residents packed the Officer Public Hall on Wednesday night to hear more about the proposed highway which will destroy the town’s centre.
The highway, needed to service the town’s long-term population boom, will demolish several businesses – including Rawson Motors and the third-generation Van Steensel Timber.
Government officials moved the road’s planned route from ‘Gilbert’s paddock’, now owned by VicUrban, after the Department of Sustainability (DSE) discovered endangered native grasses on the site.
DSE Group Manager of Biodiversity, Mark Winfield, said the paddock contained Plains Grassland, which is endangered and listed for protection under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
“There are five known sites remaining,” he said.
The paddock also contains Plains Grassy Wetland and Swamp Scrub, both which are considered endangered flora.
But some Officer residents have questioned this, pointing out that Kevin Gilbert, who passed away only two weeks ago, ran cattle on the 25 hectare property. It has also previously been slashed for straw.
Visiting the site on Monday, Officer and District Community Association Inc president Rob Porter, trader Peter Van Steensel and Trevor Turner, could see nothing but garden variety tussocks, thistles, tea-tree and blackberries.
“Sure, we are going to have development, but we don’t want to make an impact on the people who have looked after our town for so long,” Mr Porter said.
“Peter supports the town, the working bees, the cricket club. These are the kind of people we want to protect.”
Highways are haunting Mr Van Steensel – he only recently settled with VicRoads after a drawn-out VCAT battle when they compulsory acquired part of his Grantville business to duplicate the Bass Highway.
Mr Turner, whose daughter Gill Gilbert runs Studio 28 Hairdressing, which is also up for demolition under the revised plans, said the previous option, extending through the paddock from Bayview Road, was ideal.
“Everyone agreed to their original proposal. It went through no businesses, no houses,” he said.
Liberal candidate for Gembrook, Brad Battin, said the plan was beyond belief.
“I think it’s disappointing there have been so many changes to the plans and now all of a sudden it goes through the oldest businesses in Officer, when it’s a prime time for them to expand.”
“Peter Van Steensel is not after compensation – he wants to continue his family business. It’s just not right.”