THE group opposed to the development of a supermarket on the former Howard Street Recreation Reserve in Epsom is rallying its forces in preparation for the finale to a long battle.
The council and property developer FKP have signed the contracts for the former soccer ground site and work is expected to begin in the coming months.
The Epsom Huntly Action Group has fought a pitched battle against the council for four years over the plan.
Despite the council, the state government and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal giving the project the green light, the group is still keen to do whatever it can to stop it going ahead.
Leader Lisa Ruffell has reiterated her group’s defiance of the project.
“We are very disappointed with how this council has handled this project,” she said. “More than 8000 people in a petition can’t be wrong, yet it is still proceeding.”
Mrs Ruffell said EHAG will use every method legally possible to stop the development.
“We will try and stop this every way we can,” she said.
“If that means standing in front of bulldozers we will. If that means getting the unions involved we will.”
Mrs Ruffell said the community did not want the
supermarket built on the former oval.
“Eight thousand people have said they do not want what council is forcing on Epsom and Huntly,” she said.
“Yet six arrogant councillors, in the comfort of their own well-resourced and serviced wards, are telling the people of Epsom and Huntly what is best for them.”
An FKP spokesperson said work would begin early in the new year.