New addresses returned to sender

RESIDENTS of Glen Dhu Rd at Molesworth will have their addresses returned to their old numbers after a fortnight of frustration. About 40 residents attended a meeting at the Derwent Valley Council Chambers on Monday night to demand the reinstatement of the rural addresses that had served them well enough for the last 15 years.

Most said they had not had any problems with their long-standing numbers until the council changed them without warning last month. Some expressed outrage that the council appeared to have advised the post office, emergency services and the titles office before notifying the affected householders.

Many believed their new numbers did not represent their physical distance along the road, which is the main principle behind Australia's rural addressing system. In some cases the new numbers were not consecutive and some switched between odd and even on the same side of the road. Some acknowleged that while their old numbers were not perfect, they were more realistic than the new numbers.

Council general manager Stephen Mackey said many of the issues of concern had already been resolved. Judging by their reactions, this news had not reached the householders. After nearly an hour of discussion, Councillor Barry Lathey summed up the mood of the meeting when he suggested that the previous addresses be reinstated.

Mr Mackey said he would write to all householders on Glen Dhu Rd, advising them of their old number and seeking confirmation of it. On completion of that process he would advise the relevant authorities that the old number had been reinstated. Mr Mackey would not be drawn on the matter of compensation for the costs involved in the multiple address changes, describing this as a private matter for each householder. He said this would be the subject of individual discussions.