By Shelby Brooks
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot’.
Just as Joni Mitchell crooned in the hit son Big Yellow Taxi – that’s what Pinehill Drive residents are concerned will happen to their quiet street once the Pakenham East Train Station is built.
Pinehill Drive residents who will be sharing a back fence with the Pakenham East train station are calling on the council to block access to the railway car park from their quiet street.
A big question mark lingers over the fate of two battle-axe block driveways that lead to the homes that have been compulsory acquired by the government for demolition.
Fifty-two residents of Pinehill Drive have signed a petition to Cardinia Shire Council asking for the permanent closure of the driveways at 38A and 44 Pinehill Drive.
Petitioners also asked for Pinehill Drive to be turned into a cul-de-sac and for a total re-development of Ryan Road, including the closure of Pinehill Drive, to be funded by Level Crossing Removal Projects (LXRP) and the Victorian Government.
The fear was that the two battle-axe drive ways would become walkways or drive throughs to the station, lead petitioner Adrian Wood said.
“We don’t want any entry from the station into Pinehill Drive,” Mr Wood said.
Mr Wood said safety and privacy concerns were the main drivers for the request, with the ideal outcome being that the driveway land is either given back to the neighbouring homes or planted as parkland.
“We don’t want people parking on our nature strips and walking past our home to the station,” he said.
“We also don’t want the extra amount of traffic. We need to protect what’s left of the street.”
Ron and Margaret Cocks subdivided their property many years ago to turn it into a battle-axe block.
The home behind theirs has been vacated by the owners after it was compulsory acquired by the government as part of the station build.
“If that laneway was open, they’d sure as eggs park in the street,” Ron told the Gazette.
“Our little piece of paradise is blowing clean out of the water.
“Especially when you’ve probably only got 10 years to go, it’s a bit of a shame.”
In response to the petition, Cardinia Shire Council will undertake a traffic and parking assessment on Pinehill Drive, followed by a further assessment after the train station development is complete. Recommendations as a result of the assessments will be discussed in consultation with the residents of Pinehill Drive.
“I sincerely and totally sympathise with this complex situation,” Councillor Graeme Moore said.
Cr Moore, who tabled the petition, acknowledged that the council had not yet been informed by the LXRP of the full scope of the project and the impact on residents was hard to identify yet.
“Any proposal to prematurely close Pinehill Drive could have further impacts on the property owners,” Cr Moore said.
Councillor Jack Kowarzik was also in favour of undertaking an investigation however didn’t want to spread false hope to residents.
“I want to acknowledge the limited power the council has in regard to the LXRP projects,” he said.
“I don’t mean to say that as a cop out, I just mean to say that as a fact.
“We aren’t necessarily in a position to grant wishes like a genie would. That doesn’t mean we give up but I don’t want to give false hope.”
