By ANEEKA SIMONIS
LAKESIDE residents whose backyard privacy was destroyed by a council pathway were disappointed to learn council will not provide fence extenders despite hopeful months of negotiation.
Neighbours Ryan Donaldson and Troy Holt both live along the pathway which is elevated to the point that pedestrians can be seen from waist-up from their home due to underground services.
Both residents, who each have young families, said the Cardinia Shire Council path which was finalised in November last year jeopardises their privacy and that council should foot the bill to restore their backyard comfort.
But after two months of negotiation, where the men personally secured fencing quotes for council, they were told they were responsible for their own privacy.
“While council has been happy to work with residents in a bid to address their concerns, the footpath and fence meet the standards required and there is no obligation on council to take any action,” said Council’s team leader engineer Andrew Barr.
Mr Holt labelled the decision as “ridiculous”, particularly council’s recent move into a newly constructed $20 million dollar office complex.
“They are happy to spend money on themselves but not when it comes to the community,” he said.
Mr Holt said the elevated pathway, which connects Pakenham police station and Cardinia Road in Officer, has already cost him $1300 in fencing and alfresco blinds to secure his family’s privacy.
“I am not happy, but what can I do? There’s no point arguing and I am sick of running around in circles.”
Mr Barr said council encouraged pedestrians to respect the privacy of people living in nearby properties and said there were only few people with concerns about the path.
“While there have been concerns raised by some residents, there have also been plenty of positive comments from pedestrians, cyclists and people in motorised scooters who are now able to safely travel alongside the Princes Highway,” he said.
Mr Donaldson said his three children, aged two, four and six, have not been able to play unsupervised in their backyard since the path was constructed at the start of November last year.
