By Faith Macale
After Melton council moved to withdraw funding for a sound wall for the Silverdale estate in 2022, the new council revisited the case during a recent meeting.
Cr Bob Turner raised the issue during council’s December meeting, asking for a report explaining the cost involved in constructing a sound wall for the Silverdale estate, including any possible timeline and any other options that may be available.
Cr Turner said the issue needs to be looked at seriously as residents still struggle with the extreme noise coming from the freeway.
He said he was aware of the extreme noise that is experienced in the area, but did not realise how extreme it was until during his election campaign, when he was giving out leaflets door-to-door in the area.
The estate, developed in 2001, was issued a planning permit by the council, but a permit requirement was not imposed on the developer to provide noise mitigation.
In 2023, Star Weekly reported council had approved $2.1 million to fund a sound wall at the estate in 2018 but withdrew the funding in 2022.
According to the council, when a new residential area adjacent to an existing freeway or main road is developed, it is usually the developer’s responsibility to construct a sound wall if one is needed.
Cr Turner said he hoped council can look into options that can solve the noise problem in the near future.
Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg, who voted against the withdrawal of funding in 2022, said not having a sound wall in the area has affected residents’ quality of life and impacted their health.
Cr Sophie Ramsey said it was important to have the sound wall funded and built, but thought it should be in partnership with the state government.
