Chamber at crossroads

By Lilly O’Gorman
DELAYS on the five-storey Lyall Road development in Berwick’s CBD have dealt traders another blow.
As the Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce clears the decks ahead of its annual general meeting tonight (Wednesday) president Harry Hutchinson said the new committee faced a challenging year.
But despite putting the call out to a healthy membership base for new blood on the executive committee, it appeared the current team would step forward yet again.
“None of us are nominating in case someone puts their hand up,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“(However) it’s more than likely, unless someone puts their hand up at the AGM, the committee will remain the same.”
A spokesperson from VicRoads will brief the meeting on the progress of the Clyde Road duplication works, which began in March and are expected to be completed late next year.
Mr Hutchinson said he’d be asking how VicRoads would help to promote businesses, especially on the South side, affected by the works.
“Clyde Road is starting to bite in and we’re working closely with VicRoads and contractors to try and help the situation as quickly as we can,” he said.
Mr Hutchinson said the works were one of the main challenges facing the incoming committee, which was “at a crossroads”.
“The next committee is going to have a lot to do. It really has to be seen to be moving forward and coming up with solutions,” he said.
“We haven’t had any development for quite some time. It would be nice to see the Harmon Group have a starting date on development. We’re really keen to get that development going.”
Mr Hutchinson said the closure and downsizing of a number of large office buildings had meant a loss of about 100 potential customers for the retail and hospitality sector.
But Paul Harmon, from developers the Harmon Group, said construction wouldn’t begin late this year, as planned.
The controversial commercial development was approved last July at VCAT after it was rejected by the City of Casey.
It includes a 46-bed hotel, supermarket, restaurant, retail space, offices and 372 car parking spaces and was expected to bolster local businesses.
“It’s not looking likely,” Mr Harmon said. “We don’t have any start date just yet. I couldn’t tell you (when it might be).”