St Andrews Beach locals urge shire to abandon development plans
St Andrews Beach residents want the shire to abandon plans for drainage and road upgrades, saying it will destroy the vibe of their quiet coastal town.
South East
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DON’T ruin the coastal ambience of our village.
That’s the blunt message to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council from St Andrews Beach residents, who fear a drainage and road upgrade project will urbanise the quiet coastal town.
A resident, who didn’t want to be named, said residents were deeply concerned.
“The community is in a panic,” the resident said.
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“We have limited footpaths and it’s a laid-back, relaxed place. What we all fear is a more urban environment.”
The resident said locals were being told the roads would be “reduced to rubble” if the project didn’t go ahead.
Another resident said locals were desperate to retain the hamlet-style feel of St Andrews Beach.
“St Andrews Beach is a coastal environment. There’s sand dunes and a community who love those coastal roads and the ambience. There’s a lot of concern about changing the ambience.”
Residents also feared they would be individually hit with bills in excess of $20,000 to fund the project if it got the nod, the local said.
In an online statement, the council said the roads in the area were originally constructed by a developer in the 1950s.
“No drainage system was constructed and, at that time, Victorian councils did not have the power to require developers to build certain roads to council’s standards,” the statement said.
“The lack of drainage and the substandard road construction means that many of the roads in St Andrews Beach are approaching a point at which they cannot be maintained any longer.”
In a separate statement, senior council officer Davey Smith said the shire was proposing a solution to roads and drainage issues “that we feel best improves the amenity and respects the environment”.
He said it was proposed to fund the works via a special charge scheme with a contributions from both council and property owners.
For details, visit mornpen.vic.gov.au
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