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The fate of Echuca’s Jarman St is still unresolved after Campaspe Shire councillors voted to continue discussions about a proposed closure of part of the road.

The Echuca Cemetery Trust wants to close a section of the road to extend the cemetery, but some nearby landowners are against the move.

Council staff put a recommendation to last week’s meeting that council discontinue the road from 70m west of the Homan St intersection.

However, Cr Paul Jarman moved a new motion for council to request officers hold further discussions with the Echuca Cemetery Trust to negotiate an increased setback of the road closure.

Council received six submissions about the road closure — five of which were from residents of the area.

Among concerns raised by the residents were that property values would be affected by the cemetery moving closer to the homes, the fact Jarman St was used as a walking track and the street acted as a buffer between the cemetery and residences.

Campaspe Esplanade resident Murray Grant opposed the closure as Jarman St was the only truck access to his property to the west of the cemetery. However, council officers said Nolan St could be used if some trees and limbs were removed and part of the street realigned.

Solicitor Nicholas Rolfe also made a submission on behalf of Daryl and Debbie Archard of 430 Campaspe Esplanade.

Mr Rolfe spoke at the council meeting on behalf of his clients, asking for the road to be closed 100m from the corner of Holman St, instead of the proposed 70m.

In his submission, Mr Rolfe said when the Archards bought their property on April 15 last year, there was no mention of any road closures and if there was, they would not have bought it.

Jarman St resident Kay Devitt also addressed the meeting, telling councillors she felt the residents of her street were ‘‘being punished because of someone’s lack of planning’’.

‘‘I was hoping the council would close the current cemetery and build one elsewhere,’’ she said.

The issue of the partial street closure is a long-running one, with it first coming before council in December last year.

The initial decision by council was to start the legal procedures for submissions on the street being closed 45m west of the Homan St intersection.

However, the decision was rescinded at a council meeting in July, when a new motion was voted on to start legal proceedings for the road closure from 75m from the Homan St intersection.