Seventy Blackwood residents attended a public meeting in the town in May seeking answers as to why sewerage connections to the town, which was promised in 2005, has not been delivered.
Moorabool Mayor Pat Toohey joined Victorian Member for Melton Don Nardella, representatives from Central Highlands Water and members of the local Country Fire Authority to try to work out a solution for property owners, many of whom face building, planning and extension issues in large part due to the lack of sewerage connections.
Councillor Toohey said that in 2005 then Planning Minister John Thwaites, under the Bracks Government, announced sewerage would be connected in Gordon and Blackwood.
“Eight years down the track, Gordon’s sewerage system is connected and functional, but Blackwood has been left with no solution in sight for sewerage being connected.
“The people of Blackwood and those who have purchased land in Blackwood on the promise of sewerage connection trusted in the Minister who made that announcement and they have been severely let down.”
Cr Toohey said it further disappointed the community that those who could provide solutions to the problem did not attend the public meeting, to which they were invited.
“The Minister for Water Peter Walsh, the Minister for Planning Matthew Guy or representatives from their departments should have been at the meeting to try to come up with a sensible, common-sense solution, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“Representatives from Southern Rural Water and Western Water were invited too, as they have been involved in discussions to help Central Highlands
Water get sewerage connected, but they too did not attend. They should be pulled into line by Minister Walsh to work together for a resolution.”
To add to planning complications facing Blackwood residents, significant issues related to meeting new fire regulations are imposing further planning and development restrictions.
“With regard to this, it was disappointing that no-one from the planning area of the CFA, which determines the bell ratings for properties, attended the meeting,” Cr Toohey said.
“The community is very concerned that their democratic right to choose where they live is being taken away from them, as they are being so stifled by these circumstances surrounding planning and development.
“Moorabool Shire, Mr Nardella and Central Highlands Water will continue to work with the Blackwood community to try to attract support from other relevant authorities to come up with a fair and sensible solution.”
