By Mitchell Clarke
Residents bordering the proposed Pakenham East development will face the prospect of 7000 cars using their road daily, unless a freeway interchange is built.
The draft Pakenham East structure plan will see 630 hectares of land be turned into homes for about 22,000 people, fuelling congestion concerns for the already populated corridor.
Ryan Road residents have called on all levels of government to minimise the congestion and believe a freeway interchange could be the perfect solution.
“It would be a real demonstration that government is genuinely concerned for people’s safety, the environment and our future living standards,” resident Genevieve Shallard said on behalf the residents group.
The nearest freeway interchange to the precinct is Kooweerup Road to the west and the Princes Highway at Nar Nar Goon to the east – a distance of seven kilometres between each – the largest between interchanges in areas bordering suburban development.
“An interchange will keep congestion out of Pakenham and reduce the amount of traffic travelling on the Princes Highway – it will keep pressure off Racecourse Road and McGregor Road, and their freeway interchanges,” Ms Shallard added.
“Everyone living in Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon will be able to get around easier because those travelling to and from the new development area will have direct access from the freeway.”
Despite the township being dubbed as big as Warragul, the current planning design only provides access from the Princes Highway.
“The residents are just seeking good design now to ensure the best outcome for everyone into the future as there is no new freeway interchange and no new train station,” she added.
“Anyone who doesn’t have a car will have to rely on a bus to get around and the only other option will be to walk all the way into Pakenham to access the existing services, which will take some people well over 45 minutes depending on where their house will be.”
Federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood said he “fully supported” on and off ramps at the Pakenham East development and vowed to fight alongside residents to bring the project to light.
“Council and the State Government need to plan to ensure there is land set aside for on off ramps and I am happy to work to secure Federal funding,” Mr Wood said.
“We need forward planning otherwise we will end up in a traffic nightmare, like McGregor Road and Racecourse Road, where short cuts were taken – now let’s not allow the same mistake here.”
In a statement to the Gazette, Cardinia Shire Council said the section of the road was managed by the Department of Transport.
“Council understands our community’s concerns and advocated for the inclusion of an interchange in the Victorian Planning Authority’s Pakenham East Precinct Structure Plan,” infrastructure services manager Cathal O’Loughlin said.
But the State Government said “significant funding” to improve safety and traffic flow on the Monash and Princes Freeway would benefit Pakenham locals.
“We’re always looking to improve our road network and make it safer and easier for people to get to where they need to go,” Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said.
“Our area is growing rapidly and that’s why we’re delivering major upgrades to freeways and arterial roads across the region.”
According to the developer, Parklea, the precinct structure plan had “mostly been finalised” and all invested parties had the opportunity to present their desired outcomes relating to all matters including transport linkages.
“We accept the outcomes adopted by Cardinia Shire Council and the Victorian Planning Authority from the Precinct Structure Plan process and are eager to move forward with our Ridgelea development in Pakenham East,” a spokesperson said.
Ridglea Estate will include a town centre, convenience centre, two sporting reserves, two government primary schools, a non-government primary school, a government secondary school, parks and waterways.
