Poowong road proposal ‘stinks’

POOWONG resident and business operator Noel Tonkin says a proposed gravel access road to his property in Gardner Lane would be a backward step, and is calling on South Gippsland Shire Council to seal it.

The proposed new section of road is intended to rectify the long-running issue of the Poowong abattoir using an existing part of Gardner Lane for loading and unloading cattle.

The proximity of the abattoir building to the road necessitates the use of the road for that purpose.

Under the proposal, GBP Australia Pty Ltd, which operates the abattoir, will purchase the affected section of road reserve.

Mr Tonkin and his neighbour would then gain access to their properties via the new section of road, which would run parallel to the existing one.

While he is supportive of the abattoir’s operation, noting it provides jobs for people in Poowong and surrounds, Mr Tonkin has long wanted a solution that removes it from the public road.

He said that currently about 200 metres of Gardner Lane is affected by the abattoir’s activity.

That includes forklifts operating on the road and prime movers sometimes blocking access to his property.

Running a boarding kennel and a farm on the property, Mr Tonkin is delighted with council’s proposal to separate the abattoir’s operations from the public road.

However, he argues a gravel access road would be detrimental to his business, with his customers having used the sealed Gardner Lane for many years.

Mr Tonkin said many of South Gippsland Shire’s gravel roads are in poor condition and that his boarding kennel business may lose some customers if the unsealed access road goes ahead.

“I maintain my driveway every week to make sure there’s no bumps, holes or anything, so there’s no complaints and people keep coming,” he said.

At Wednesday’s Gippsland Shire Council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to open the entire proposal up to public consultation.

“The only opportunity to rectify the issue is to discontinue a strip of unused road and to sell the land from the adjoining road to the adjoining landowner,” states the meeting agenda put before councillors.

Mr Tonkin said it is incorrect to describe the affected section of road as ‘unused’ and believes such a view could sway councillors to support the proposal for the new road being gravel.

He said the meeting agenda also fails to mention that any complaints have been received, arguing that he and his neighbour both complained about the proposal for a gravel road.

His call for the new section to be sealed received support from Cr Mick Felton at Wednesday’s meeting.

“I just want to put it forward that I’m not in favour of that road being a gravel road,” Cr Felton said.

He said that he formed that view based on discussions with Mr Tonkin and the executor of the deceased estate that runs on the property adjoining Mr Tonkin’s.

“They’ve explained to me that they have no issue with the realignment of the road or the sale of the (existing) road to the abattoir, but their concern is the road will be gravel,” Cr Felton said.

However, he said he missed the morning briefing session for councillors and may change his mind on the issue, depending on what further information he receives from council.

Written submissions from the community are invited until 5pm on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.