STAIRCASE MEANS EASY ACCESS TO COMMUNITY ASSET
17 August 2005
Local residents now have easy access to a valued community asset - by way of staircase.
A joint project between Melbourne Water and the City of Whitehorse involved constructing the staircase at the Masons Road Retarding Basin in Forest Hill.
Melbourne Water Managing Director Rob Skinner said in the past, there had been an informal pedestrian track over the retarding basin wall that was steep and dangerous during winter. The embankment was also eroded.
"Melbourne Water and the council worked with the community to develop the Landscape and Environmental Management Plan for the area, which looked at ensuring the retarding basin continued to help prevent flooding, while improving the environmental values and community use," Mr Skinner said.
"In addition to controlling flood flows, retarding basins can be a great recreational benefit, and the staircase is an important contribution to the site in allowing the community to enjoy the natural environment."
Whitehorse Councillors, Peter Allan and Hayley Weller said the timber staircase was a great asset to Central Ward providing pedestrians easy and safe access to the retarding basin.
Crs Allan and Weller said it was another example of a successful jointly funded project between Council and Melbourne Water and would provide many benefits to the Whitehorse community.
They are looking forward to the City of Whitehorse taking over management of the staircase from the middle of this month.
The Landscape and Environmental Management Plan was developed for Masons Road Retarding Basin, Billabong Park, the pipe reserve from Springvale Road to Rooks Road and the pipe reserve from Mitcham Road to Brunswick Street Mitcham.
Melbourne Water owns the Masons Road Retarding Basin and the council manages the site.
About 150 areas known as retarding basins are used to help prevent flooding around Melbourne. They slow the flow of stormwater being carried in the drainage system by storing it for a period of time.