By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has welcomed a Supreme Court decision allowing it to acquire an easement which will support a future road connection in Manor Lakes.
The recent court decision has cleared the way for the council to secure access rights for a tract of vacant land in order to build from Ballan Road, past Manor Lakes Shopping Centre and through to Armstrong Road.
The future east-west road to be constructed across the site will provide residents with more direct access to Wyndham Vale train station.
The proposed road will include footpaths, bicycle lanes and 59 indented car parking bays interspersed with landscaping.
This project will eventually require the acquisition of 9369 square metres of land.
The council published a Notice of Acquisition related to the land in the Victoria Government Gazette in November 2018, which was served on the land’s owner – a company associated with the Dennis Corporation- a few days later.
The company issued Supreme Court proceedings to challenge Wyndham council’s application to compulsorily acquire the 26-metre-wide easement under Section 187 of the Local Government Act.
Wyndham’s city design portfolio holder, Cr Josh Gilligan, said that building the road would help to reduce local traffic congestion on the way to and from the train station.
Wyndham mayor Adele Hegedich also applauded the Supreme Court decision.
“This is a big win for Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes residents,” Cr Hegedich said.
