High Street

By Jade Lawton
BERWICK traders are calling on the City of Casey to pull their fingers out and complete landscaping works in High Street before Christmas.
Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce president Harry Hutchinson said traders were sick of looking at cyclone fences after work on the $2.4 million Berwick Village Streetscape Project grinded to a halt recently.
“We were told to wait until the cooler or wetter months, but there is still no planting. A lot of money and a lot of planning went in to this, and we are disappointed. It’s just sitting there like a white elephant,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“Even our customers are asking what the hell is going on with the median strip.
Stage two of the three-stage streetscape works began on 18 August 2008 and was pegged for completion by the end of October 2008, but limped over schedule.
The work involved improving pavement and kerb drainage, re-engineering the central median car park, building new pedestrian paths, landscaping work including provision of garden beds, trees and lighting, the creation of new central spaces for public use and the installation of new street furniture, including bins, seats and bike racks.
Stage three of the streetscape works aims to improve public areas in the remainder of the commercial centre.
“Christmas is fast approaching and we don’t want to go through what we did last year. It’s a public meeting place but not too many people are sitting there enjoying it,” Mr Hutchinson said.
City of Casey manager of City Living, Richard Amon, said the project was still under the maintenance period of the contract.
“The contractor will undertake some replanting works shortly. We anticipate that the planting will be completed in approximately four weeks,” he said.