Tate Papworth
The developers of a controversial townhouse estate in Kealba have made it clear they will once again take their fight to VCAT in the Brimbank Council knocks back its planning application.
The fight over the Driscolls Road development began last year with residents holding concerns that the proposal was excessive and would create multiple issues.
The Brimbank council also had a number of issues with the proposal, however the developer decided to have the matter heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal before councillors could vote on the matter.
VCAT member Tracey Bilston-McGillen said a number of items needed to be addressed, including the need for a carparking plan, which identifies roads, pedestrian, cycles and vehicle access locations.
At a planning forum last week developers said they’d addressed the issues and expected proposals to be approved.
“Hopefully council will be able to approve and the necessity for any VCAT intervention may be avoided,” a spokesman for the developer said.
“At a time of economic uncertainty, such an infusion could be expected to help the resilience and enhancement of services and facilities such as schools and child care, health services, sporting clubs and local business.
The spokesman said the project will provide around 110 full time jobs on site over three years of construction and hundreds more providing specialist skills during the life of the development.
Work could start by early next year.
The proposal seeks a mix 196 detached and semi-detached homes and terrace style housing on the land, with landscaped reserves.
However a spokeswoman for the Kealba Residents Against over Development said the plans were still a significant cause for concern.
“We’re just as concerned about this proposal this time around, if not more so,” the spokeswoman said.
“At the planning forum the developers just couldn’t see why we weren’t on board with this great new proposal, thinking they’d addressed all our concerns.
“But there’s still a number of significant issues when it comes to parking and the density still isn’t suitable for the area.”
The council is expected to vote on the matter in July.
