TRENTHAM’s streetscape beautification works will go ahead as planned, despite a petition of 166 residents voicing their objection to aspects of the $260,000 project.
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Hepburn Shire Council is about to embark on one of the largest street tree plantings in Trentham’s history, planting nearly 190 trees in the coming months.
It will also make a number of streetscape upgrades and install street furniture.
In May, a petition of 240 signatories was lodged with the council, with 166 of those being Trentham residents.
The petitioners asked council to “respect Trentham’s history and heritage” and not brick the gravel path at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, install calverts and barricades along the main street, make changes to Market Street, install “cheap seating and fixtures”, put in modern-looking pebble-mix parking areas, or remove original fixtures, troughs and brick gutters.
The signatories also asked council not to plant trees in Camp Street, which they said would increase its fire risk.
However, the petitioners agreed with plans to maintain bluestone gutters and curbs, install antique wrought iron seating, create footpaths, remove slippery slate, plant trees in other streets, along with antique lamps, lay underground power cables and establish pedestrian crossings.
Trentham resident Cate Evans questioned the council’s community consultation process.
However, general manager community services Kathleen Brannigan said ample consultation opportunities had been provided from November 2013 to January 2015.
She said some modifications had already been made to the streetscape plans based on those consultation sessions.
General manager infrastructure Bruce Lucas said the CFA had given the council clearance that it’s “non-combustable plants” would not increase Camp Street’s fire risk, and that the plantings would go ahead.
“Street trees have been purchased and are sitting at the depot, ready for planting,” he said.
Councillor Pierre Niclas said it was time to get the project moving.
“This has been going on for 18 months. It’s had more digs that you can throw a stick at,” he said.
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