Drysdale residents step up campaign for shared footpath

BELLARINE Springs Retirement Village residents have stepped up their fight for footpaths to be built in Drysdale’s growing residential area by submitting a petition.

Local resident Geoff Turner, along with fellow neighbours, handed their petition – “Petition for pedestrian and cyclist access along Central Road, Drysdale” – to City of Greater Geelong councillor Jim Mason on Saturday.

The handover comes after the residents approached the council with their concerns during a council meeting in February.

The petition states that “over the past 10 years, and increasingly so in the last few, there have been major changes to the land use along Central Road, in particular the southern section”.

“These areas have been rezoned from farming to residential resulting in new housing developments – in the last two years alone, 70 new housing blocks have been created near Ada Street intersection, and the Bellarine Springs Retirement Village currently has 93 homes completed out of an eventual target of 194.

“The increase in people living directly adjacent to Central Road and accessing it for non-vehicle transport has increased accordingly, and will continue to do so.

“The southern part of Central Road resembles a narrow country road, with hills and poor visibility creating major safety hazards for other road users.”

Resident Judy Streich (nee Baird) said Cr Mason said he fully understood their concerns with the unsafe condition of the road.

“The councillor will be presenting the petition at an open council meeting at the Indented Heads Community Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, July 9,” Ms Streich said.

“We are intending to have representatives there with our banners.”