In regards to the Salvation Army's proposed residential subdivision, we as a community voice, wish to express our total support for Philip Fowler in his quest to overturn the decision to allow a cul-de-sac to be a part of the proposed plan to open onto an extremely narrow and curvy Hollis Avenue. (GP April 21, 2021)
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This creates a very dangerous intersection and should be reviewed and overturned for the safety of everyone in the neighbourhood and community.
Mr Fowler and all the residents who reside in the vicinity of this subdivision are very resolute in their opposition to this decision and how the council has endorsed a road safety action plan that is clearly an issue. There was also a lack of communication by the council to the objections of rate paying citizens that were directly affected, prior to the decision being affirmed.
The dangerous, narrow and bendy Hollis Avenue creates a hazard already without adding to the equation. Cars also park along the proposed section of the street.
Even the need to move the council garbage vehicles along the street becomes an issue! Reversing from existing driveways is already a daily challenge without adding more obstacles. This decision now creates a precedence in other subdivisions for the council in future!
We wish for the Goulburn Mulwaree Council and Salvation Army to reconsider this decision with proposed alternatives:
- The proposed cul-de-sac is exited onto Hovell Street, which is a nice straight and wider street than the current option;
- If the above is not an alternative, then the other alternative would be for Hollis Avenue to be widened from the Lisgar Street intersection to at least the second bend of lower Hollis Avenue (widening of street would alleviate most of the issues);
- We still have concerns over the drainage from said cul-de-sac as well. Any fool can see that the hill where the development is proposed has the ability to generate high volumes of water during a severe storm. This will then immediately affect the dwellings on the lower side of the street. How large is the drainage trap for this, if a storm does hits (and it will at some stage)? Who will be responsible for the damage caused? We would like to see a plan of said drainage and if it is not adequate, that extra steps be taken to ensure to completely elevate this concern.
Also of concern is the large amount of landfill that has been moved onto the proposed subdivision from the area where the current Waminda Aged Care facility exists.
This landfill has been moved several times in the last 40 years from the area of the Gill Memorial Boys Home. There has been a suggestion of asbestos contamination in these soils, as the old boys home was built in an era where asbestos was frequently used.
My question is, has all this soil been tested, who has the results, and if not, why hasn't it? The concern is now what protection do close by residents have if this soil is again disturbed.
Furthermore, there has been talk from older Goulburn residents that this particular area where the subdivision is proposed was once a rubbish dump prior to construction of housing department homes in the 1950s. Can this be confirmed or denied, as this again creates issues with toxins etc being released above ground during excavations?
We again request this decision be re-visited and commonsense be brought to bear for a positive resolution to all parties.
A petition has been signed by concerned citizens who originally sent in a number of letters to the council regarding their concerns, which should have been heard before the decision was approved.
To this day no members of the council or council staff have approached any resident in regard to this matter. Why send out these council letters for pending developments if they are to be ignored for the sake of ticking one of their boxes?
H Greenlees, Goulburn
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