By Tate Papworth
Brimbank councillors have slammed a developer for taking an application to build 208 townhouses and units on a former school site in Kealba directly to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The council was set to vote on the planning application last week but the council’s city development director Kelvin Walsh said the developer had decided to have the matter heard in VCAT.
“In the case of the application for approval of a development plan for the site at 27 Driscolls Road, Kealba, council officers had assessed the proposal that was originally submitted for 232 dwellings and had advised the applicant that they could not support that proposal,” he said.
“The applicant made changes to the proposal to reduce the development to 208 dwellings, however officers had advised that there were still significant concerns with the proposal and they were still unable to support it.”
Kealba residents opposed to the scale of the development rallied at the site prior to last week’s council meeting.
According to one organiser, more than 200 people attended to voice their concern.
Mr Walsh said the developer had waited 60 days after being provided the amended plans before taking the matter directly to VCAT for consideration.
Cr Daniel Allan said: “When you have a plan where council officers have raised a dozen different issues … when you have … nearly 800 objections by locals – you have to ask yourself, ‘What made the developer think that 208 units and townhouses is a positive outcome for the community?’.
“Simply put, this development plan does not benefit the community.”
The matter will be heard at VCAT this month.
