Petition calls for axing of bridge project
Shire of Denmark special electors meeting on Monday have gathered close to 100 residents to vote on the controversial East River road bridge project.
The special elector meeting came after the Safe East River Forest network group gathered 320 local signatories, all opposed to the project.
Residents have voted to block the Shire from using the community’s Roads to Recovery funds for the bridge project and request to return the $4 Million Royalties for Region funding.
SERF network group administrator Lydia Kenyon said the meeting shows amazing response from the community.
“We want the funding to be suspended before the council able to conduct traffic flows studies, emergency response plan, assets management plan and a redraft of the local planning strategy,” she said.
“If the state government are not able to suspend that funding until those reports are completed – we would like the council to return the royalties of region money to the State.”
Shire President Ceinwen Gearon said the Shire is already in the process of implementing some of the requested motions already.
“We have already commenced all the studies that the motions are requestion,” she said.
“We hoped to have more information regarding some of them by the end of March.
“Once we’ll have more information in front of us, the council will make a more informed decision.”
The elector’s meeting results will be discussed on the next council meeting, Ms Kenyon said he have hopes that the council will decided upon the matter accordingly.
“The Council has finally respond to the community request– it’s been a huge win for community consultation,” she said.
“But whether or not they accept the elector’s motion, we will find out on their next meeting.”
The Shire of Denmark will be required to finalised the East River road bridge project by July.
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