POREPUNKAH residents petitioning Alpine Shire Council to keep McCullough Street closed to through traffic permanently have been told it's too premature to make that commitment.

A petition signed by 40 people from 21 local properties was discussed at last week's council meeting.

Petitioners are asking for the current "zebra" barrier which bookends McCullogh Street - a road reserve that connects Station and Service streets, to the north and south respectively - to remain in place permanently to keep the pathway as a safe space for pedestrians.

"Together with the new footpath, it maintains a quiet, child-and pedestrian-safe walkway for use by locals who at present enjoy their walks through it from Station Street to Service Road and vice-versa," petitioners wrote.

Councillors however, noted that with long-term planning currently being undertaken for Porepunkah, particularly around future development and residential growth, it was too premature to make any permanent commitment.

In a report to the meeting officers noted council had recently adopted the Alpine Shire Land Development Strategy 2024 (LDS), which identified Porepunkah as one of four service towns along with Bright, Mount Beauty/Tawonga South and Myrtleford, which will accommodate the majority of the municipality’s future growth.

"The LDS provides the basis and scope for future structure planning in these four service towns to address neighbourhood character, encourage greater housing diversity and accommodate employment activities," the report read.

"The land surrounding McCullough Street is zoned Township Zone, which seeks to provide for residential development, and a range of commercial, industrial and other

uses in small towns.

"A significant number of properties along McCullough Street are largely vacant with some subdivision occurring to the north and south in the past few years.

"Amongst other things, the LDS considers such properties to be infill development and supports the future development of existing urban zoned land for urban growth to

ensure land and existing services are used more efficiently.

"Due to limited opportunities for new greenfield development, infill development is key to accommodating future growth as required by the Victorian government.

"The LDS identifies significant opportunity for infill development in Porepunkah."

The meeting was told council is currently preparing background technical reports to inform future structure planning for the four service towns, and one of the background reports will be a local area traffic management plan.

Councillors unanimously supported the recommendation that petitioners be encouraged to make a submission to the development of these long-term strategic plans during the relevant consultation period, allowing for a more holistic consideration of future requirements.