‘Accident waiting to happen’: Halcyon Horizon residents contest path closure
Residents of an Armstrong Creek retirement village have been forced onto a busy thoroughfare after developers blocked a key walkway with temporary fencing.
Residents of an Armstrong Creek retirement village say their lives are being put at risk after developers blocked a key walking route, forcing them onto a busy thoroughfare with steel barriers and no road shoulder.
Debbie Verras is among the more than 100 residents of Halcyon Horizon, a gated over 55s community located off Horseshoe Bend Rd.
Ms Verras said up until about two months ago residents were able to access local facilities including shops and public transport via an informal walking track that offered a safe route to Warralily Bvd.
The 65-year-old retiree said since September, however, temporary fencing erected on Horseshoe Bend Rd had blocked part of the walkway, forcing foot and bike traffic onto the 60km/h road.
“Our residents are now being put at risk by a private developer and the council by having our only off road access blocked by temporary fencing,” she said.
“Previously, to connect between the permanent pathways already in place, we relied on the walkway … it was unmade but at least it provided a safer way than walking on the narrow and busy Horseshoe Bend Rd where there is no road shoulder to speak of and also one area of steel barriers making it even more dangerous.
“There have been close calls that I’ve witnessed myself … it’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Ms Verras said the impact on residents, many of whom no longer drove, had been significant.
“For some, access to public transport on Warralily Bvd is now out of the question,” she said.
“It is also affecting those who would use the area for health and wellbeing activities, as no one feels safe even going for a walk outside the community perimeter.”
After reporting the issue to the City of Greater Geelong, Ms Verras said she was told “lengthy planning and vegetation removal activities” would be required to establish an alternative safe pedestrian path.
The council also informed Ms Verras the temporary fencing surrounded an area of protected native vegetation and must remain in place throughout construction, which she argued was “putting trees before people”.
“What is the ‘significant, vulnerable native vegetation’ they are more concerned with than the vulnerable residents?” she added.
“One of the other reasons it’s been blocked off is concern about the safety of pedestrians with the heavy machinery on the worksite, which is a bit ironic when you’re actually pushing the pedestrians onto the road instead.”
Ms Verras was advised the private land developer was required to construct a shared path which would be “gifted” to the council and made available to the public once completed.
However, Ms Verras said Halcyon Horizon residents had “no indication” of the project timeline and she was not confident it would be finished anytime soon.
“In the meantime, my concern is the increased usage of Horseshoe Bend Rd due to construction traffic and surrounding road closures will lead to a potential fatality occurring,” she said.
City of Greater Geelong director of city infrastructure James Stirton said council understood the “importance of safe and accessible pedestrian connections” for residents in Armstrong Creek.
“We’ve looked closely at options for a temporary pedestrian path in the Horseshoe Bend Rd reserve, but space and environmental constraints have made it unviable,” Mr Stirton said.
“We have raised the urgency of the shared path with the developer to ensure residents have safe access to Warralily Bvd and key facilities, and we continue to work closely with them to see the new path delivered as quickly as possible.
“As the City appreciates the concerns of residents within the lifestyle village, we also encourage them to work with facility operators to implement a temporary shuttle service whilst we await the construction of the footpath by the developer.”
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Originally published as ‘Accident waiting to happen’: Halcyon Horizon residents contest path closure
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