NOT usually one to complain John Walsh has grown impatient with Bass Coast Shire over the lack of street lighting and a footpath outside his home in Gordon Street, Wonthaggi.
“It’s been seven years since I first wrote to Bass Coast Council about the footpath,” said Mr Walsh.
John Walsh is not the only Wonthaggi resident growing tired of Bass Coast’s neglect of local footpaths, street-lighting and laneways.
Residents and neighbours of Merrin Crescent and Reed Crescent in Wonthaggi claim weeds and overhanging trees in their back laneway are ‘out of control’.
Conscious of the concerns of ratepayers Bass Coast Shire has selected 45 residents to have their say and list their priorities for local roads, rates, laneways, footpaths and street lighting.
John Walsh is one of those chosen to be part of the consultation group.
Top of the list of priorities for John is the lack of a continuous footpath in Gordon Street and poor street lighting particularly at the entrance to laneways.
Gordon Street is a busy bus route according to Mr Walsh and with a kindergarten nearby extra busy during school hours at 8.30am in the morning and 3.30pm in the afternoon.
Mr Walsh has been campaigning for a footpath in Gordon Street since 2023.
“The nature strips are very uneven in Gordon Street and people are forced to walk on the road.”
Asked when local residents could expect a footpath and better street lighting the Sustainable Transport and Movement Team from Bass Coast Council responded to Mr Walsh that Gordon Street had been put on the long-term footpath gaps program.
“What is that?” asked John.
In 2023 Mr Walsh was advised Bass Coast had outstanding footpath and bike path projects estimated to cost $40 million but only $300,000 to $400,000 had been allocated in each year’s council budget.
“That will take 100 years to complete,” said Mr Walsh.
Inconsistent speed limits in the vicinity of Gordon Street are also a concern for Mr Walsh.
“The speed limits vary from 40, 50 and 60km/hr with very little signage.”
Local residents are also concerned about security at night with poor street lighting.
The safety of pedestrians and motor vehicles is at risk according to Mr Walsh, particularly in winter.
Mr Walsh wrote to AUSNET about the street lighting only to be told that AUSNET was not responsible for new lights only for the maintenance of existing streetlights.
Last month Bass Coast Shire wrote to Mr Walsh saying they were happy to advise his application for additional street lighting had been successfully closed.
John Walsh is still waiting.
“No feedback, no result. I’ve been kept in the dark,” said Mr Walsh.
Listing his priorities for when the newly selected Bass Coast resident’s consultation team meets at San Remo in April Mr Walsh said a footpath for Gordon Street and better street lighting were number one and two priorities on his list.
