By Bonny Burrows
A give way sign on a communal Pakenham “driveway” amounts to misappropriation of public funds, according to residents.
Wendy Andrews and her neighbours Stafford and Belinda Hibbert happily share what they say is a five-metre driveway in Lakeside Estate.
However, the neighbours are locked in a fight with Cardinia Shire Council over the installation of a give way sign at the end of the five-metre section which adjoins their two property’s driveways.
They call it a driveway but according to the families council calls it a thoroughfare in need of road signage.
Ms Andrews and the Hibberts were not impressed, especially as they had been lobbying for the installation of pre-purchased Neighbourhood Watch signs, only to be told there was no money for it.
“I’m not often lost for words, but I’m flabbergasted,” Ms Andrews said.
“There’s definitely more effective ways of using public money than installing a give way sign on a driveway.”
The residents aren’t opposed to the installation of road safety measures; the two families agreed the recently painted white lines down the middle of the road and reflective cat’s eyes on corners were of benefit.
They said they were frustrated their sign was one of the first erected in the estate.
Ms Andrews said it “suddenly popped up for no apparent reason”, with “no explanation, no warning and no letter”.
“They just did it,” she said.
While other signs have since been installed in Lakeside, Mr Hibbert said it was a “ridiculous” waste of funds as it only serviced two households.
He also argued against the thoroughfare labelling as “there’s no street name on the driveway and it’s not bitumen”.
Ms Andrews said the neighbours had been happily giving way to each other since moving in, and the sign was unnecessary.
What was needed, she said, was the Neighbourhood Watch signage.
“The residents’ group has already paid for Neighbourhood Watch signs and it’s an initiative that’s trying to be rolled out across the shire,” Ms Andrews said.
“But council won’t pay for the installation, yet they’ll pay for this.
“This, to me, is a complete and utter waste of time and money.”
Cardinia Shire Council was contacted by The Gazette for comment.
