East Gippsland Shire Council’s (EGSC) proposal that View Street, Lakes Entrance, will have a name change has been met with much opposition from those living in the street.
After each resident had been notified by mail of this proposed change they got together for a meeting and decided to put forward a petition to object to the change.
In the letter sent by council to residents a name change was required “Due to property address duplication issues between View Street Lakes Entrance and View Street Lake Tyers Beach causing confusion for mail and delivery services and potentially causing delays for emergency service responders.”
They also added that “View Street is a cul-de-sac (no through road) and cannot have the road type ‘street’.”
One local home owner stated that “if they must change the street to another word so be it, but we do not want to lose our View.”
View Street resident Gizelle Phillips stated that while she has received a couple of letters meant for Lake Tyers, and a pizza delivery which she redirected it its correct destination, this was mere human nature and carelessness.
“Emergency services are a different matter and those guys are on high alert and fully focused,” Gizelle said.
“The ambulance had no trouble arriving swiftly to my address when my father had a stroke here. There was also a recent visit from a fire truck at the end of the street after an incident with a fire pit and fence, there was no delay in the fire brigade finding their way.
“It is our understanding that Lake Tyers Beach View Street residents were notified first that their street name would be changed, but when EGSC came up against resistance from a resident there our street was targeted instead.
“There would be 27 houses affected by a name change in Lakes Entrance as opposed to only 18 houses in Lake Tyers Beach,” she said.
The residents in Lakes Entrance believe that the street name has historical significance as it is the original View Street within the 3909 postcode area, preceding the Lake Tyers Beach View street by decades.
The name change options provided by EGSC are suggestions inspired by ships lost at sea, Magnolia and Glenelg however both of these names have not appealed to the residents.
One resident, Rose Radford grew up in Lakes Entrance and remembers walking past View Street in Lakes Entrance when it was mostly vacant land some 87 years ago. Rose’s husband built the View Street house she still lives in, and she remarked that they have a good mixture of people in the street and everyone is lovely.
“Who cares about old boats that sank in 1887, we want to keep our own history of the street,” Rose said.
“I am unsure what set this in motion, but we don’t agree with it.”
The concerned residents have appreciated prompt responses from MPs Tim Bull and Darren Chester, along with Cr Arthur Allen who stated that providing the petition meets requirements, it will be tabled at the next EGSC meeting on December 16.
The group put forward the following points to be considered by the authorities –
– The historical significance of the street name; it is the original View Street within the 3909 postcode
– The end of our street is a popular public viewing spot to look out over North Arm. Hence, the name View Street.
– The fact that changing the name from
View Street would negatively impact property value
– The hassle of needing to change
our address
– Negatively affects 27 properties and
their owners
