The fear of a name change to View Street is not only affecting residents in Lakes Entrance, but also those at Lake Tyers Beach, where the other View Street exists.
In the December 3 issue of the Lakes Post, Lakes Entrance residents of View Street aired their apprehensions about a proposed name change to their street by East Gippsland Shire. Lake Tyers Beach resident Mr Geoff Ellis and other locals share these concerns and want them addressed.
Mr Ellis, a four-decade resident of the street, said the LTB View Street residents supported their cousins in View Street, Lakes Entrance, in opposing the change.
EGSC’s concern is with duplication issues between the two streets, which could cause confusion for mail delivery and potentially delay emergency service responses.
“I have found little confusion with postal services, deliveries and such,” Mr Ellis stated.
“I have not seen any dissatisfaction arising from any confusion between the two streets named View.
“The necessary headaches that arise from a name change are onerous indeed: licenses, Medicare, postal authorities, banks, government agencies — and the list goes on. We ask, is it really necessary, given the lack of confusion to date?”
Long-term LTB View Street resident Brett Dostine suggested any change be put on hold until the authorities can demonstrate a need, at which point it could be reconsidered.
Another resident, David Cunningham, took umbrage at the Shire’s attempt to designate any replacement name for LTB View Street. He supported the Lakes Entrance residents in selecting an alternate name, if one is required.
“Why not still include View in the name? It could be View Avenue or View Court, which would remove any perceived confusion,” he said.
“Where the waters part is in relation to emergency services and any confusion,” Mr Ellis said.
“If indeed these emergency services dictate a name change is required for safety purposes, then the cousins offer different ‘Views’, pardon the pun.”
Mr Ellis states that of the two View Streets, only one is technically a street.
“That being the LTB variety,” he said.
“The Lakes Entrance road is a dead end, without even a turning circle that could accommodate ambulances and fire trucks requiring a quick exit. The lack of a secondary exit can also result in a vehicle quite properly expecting to exit at the other end. In an emergency, this could have an adverse outcome.
“By law and definition, View Street, Lakes Entrance, is not a street but a cul-de-sac, a no-through road.
“If one needs to be changed — and that is in dispute — the Lake Tyers residents insist that the street that isn’t a street be changed: that being Lakes Entrance View Street.
“Those residents of Lakes Entrance would then control the name change. The present Lakes Entrance View Street should be adapted to resolve any emergency issues, and the problem is solved. LTB View Street remains. To do otherwise would be nonsensical,” Mr Ellis said.
