Ash trees are showing rich burgundy, poplars butter yellow, the footy season is well underway, we've even had some cold nights. Autumn. Ah, yes! The best time of year is well and truly here. That may well be a relief to one and all following the brutal summer, but, whatever the season, and despite the global financial crisis, the Gembrook building boom continues unabated.
A few days after Lib and I returned from holiday, a loud, constant, mechanical groaning sound met me at Le Souef Rd. on the Monday morning. Curious, I looked back down from Innes Rd., across the vacant block on that corner. A large truck was pumping concrete on the block fronting Le Souef Rd. People were moving about, others were still. Before our holiday there was the noise of earthmoving equipment working on site, so I knew a new house was imminent.
During next couple of weeks the thud of nail guns split the morning autumn stillness and the house frame now stands boldly on its concrete foundation. Also, the first house frame greets the casual obsever in the Belvedere Estate, along with a number of suburban style timber fences that sprang from nowhere while we were away, disecting the paddock, claiming it for Gargantuan suburbia. The main sale board map shows 'sold' stickers on 15 of the 17 blocks. Too soon, 17 houses.
The tentacles have spread across the main Rd. A new sale board has gone up advertising the sale of 25 blocks in the next stage of the 'Gembrook Park Estate'. Further down, the sale board on Redwood Rd. corner says there are only 6 blocks (of 28) left unsold in the Gembrook Views Estate estate. A flyer came in my mail advertising 'Gembrook Village', a "NEW exciting property development reserved EXCLUSIVELY for the over 55's."
There's a sign on the block on the corner of the intersection of the main road with the Pakenham/Launching Place road, giving notice of planning permit application for the constuction of six residences on that site. And the acre block next to 'the McMansion on on the gouge' has a sold sticker on it, and pegs to mark out a future house, another for me to watch the building progress, daily as I walk.
Its an unstoppable force, a rising tide drowning the town and its past. More cars, traffic, congestion, more dead birds on the roadsides, more noise, more exhaust fumes, more litter. Less peace and quiet. Less peace of mind. I shudder at what will be when all this building is done. Probably more of the same.
I think we'll have moved on. But where? It's the same everywhere. Somewhere where there's plenty of water? Maybe New Zealand? I turn 57 next week, I can't expect the world to stand still for me. It hasn't before, it's not going to now.
The words of a Kris Kristofferson song come to mind. "But there's still so many drinks that ain't been drunk, in this best of all possible worlds."
5 comments:
Ah Carey, hopefully we won't be all as bad as you think we are!
In the same way that I am hoping all the other newbies in town have chosen this as their new place of residence because they love the look and feel of gembrook ( ie, and choose to build houses that reflect gembrooks/hills character rather than mcmansions)
To anonymous..
When we came 28 years ago we knocked trees down and built a house. I'm sure someone here before me resented it. It's a natural thing. I like the word newbies. I look forward to meeting you. Please say hello if you see me walking the dogs one morning.
Carey
It's a catch 22 really isn't it - we move somewhere for peace and quiet, then hope no one else does the same ! I do hope that the current estates are the last of development for a while
We hope to be gembrookians by christmas and I am very much looking forward to becoming a part of the community (still signing loan documents at the moment!) - I will definitely keep an eye out for you and the puppies :D
Kym
We've just bought a house in Gembrook and can't wait to move in.. Currently in Mount Evelyn but bought in Gembrook because it is much quieter and has a more country feel to it. We want to have a family in a couple of years and feel it is a safe place for them to grow up.
Its a beautiful town and we are looking forward to being part of the community.
Lauren
You are right Lauren. Gembrook is a safe and good place to bring up children. People who live here love it generally. ( one of my sons says it's too far from everything that matters) It is the country feel in my book. I'm worried it will be lost in future. I welcome you and look forward to meeting you. Good luck with the move and with all your plans.
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