Cairnlea residents, angered by plans for a new industrial business park, have vowed to stop ‘‘a concrete city’’ from being built in the area.
The Weekly revealed last month that a revised masterplan for the Cairnlea mixed use precinct, proposed for a vacant lot adjoining Cairnlea Drive, included 146 townhouses, 50 apartments and 80 commercial sites.
Up to 300 sugar gum trees will also be removed for ‘‘safety reasons’’.
At a testy engagement session at Cairnlea Croquet Club last Wednesday night, resident Peter Brandecker told Places Victoria representatives he’d seek community support to block the plan.
“We don’t want industry in the area,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the whole community will go against it. Industrial sites aren’t appropriate for this area.
‘‘I’ll start a petition tonight. Cairnlea is about parklands and gum trees and a greener way of living.”
Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I just hope it’s not a concrete city like McIntyre Road.”
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Places Victoria has planned for “small-scale townhouses and warehouse buildings”, but it said lot sizes were unclear.
Residents voiced their concerns on issues such as the impact on local fauna and the possibility of commission housing being introduced. They also scoffed at Places Victoria’s claim that trees were being removed for safety reasons.
Places Victoria has promised to plant 750 trees across the estate. But resident Angela Hamilton suggested the trees would be removed to make more space for homes.
“They’re [the trees] a danger because they’re potentially a housing block,” she told the round-table discussion.
“Those kind of trees are found in other parts of the area, but they won’t be removed. We should be building infrastructure around the environment; 750 [trees] is not much for a huge area.”
Mrs Hamilton said she was frustrated with a lack of detail from Places Victoria. “You’ve given us no specific answers, no lot sizes. You must have a vague idea,” she said. Mrs Hamilton also feared an influx of residents and businesses would make traffic worse.
A Places Victoria spokesman told the meeting that traffic issues were “front and centre” of its plans and residents needed only look to a similar project in Bundoora to gain peace of mind. “University Hill is a very good example of what we’re trying to achieve.”
A spokesman told the Weekly the plan did not go into specific detail for subdivision and lot sizes. ‘‘The revised plan provides an estimate of townhouse lots, apartments and commercial sites, however specific details such as lot sizes will not be determined until the planning permit application stage.’’
Residents were told the planning process could take up to two years. The submissions deadline is Friday.
