Designs for a controversial mixed-use precinct in Cairnlea are far from finalised, Brimbank council’s soon-to-depart administrator Peter Lewinsky says.
While the council has declared in-principle support for Places Victoria’s request for Planning Minister Matthew Guy to rezone the land adjacent to Cairnlea Drive,
Mr Lewinsky said middle ground had to be found between the urban renewal authority and the Cairnlea community.
“That’s still a work in progress,” he said. “I’d have thought the two [business and residential] could go hand in glove.
‘‘You’re not going to build massively big, horrible factories there. You might get low-level industry, but I’d have thought there could be some form of area planning we can develop in consultation with the community.”
Asked if he shared the community’s concerns about 300 trees being removed, Mr Lewinsky said: “I share their concerns in that we’re going to have to cut a bit of middle ground. We haven’t resolved that issue yet. I keep an open mind with these kind of things. I don’t have a fixed view.”
A council report found that commercial development would bring “immediate positive economic impacts”.
“Council’s strategy is for retail activity to be focused at surrounding centres such as the Cairnlea town centre, Brimbank Central and Sunshine,” city development director Stuart Menzies said.
“Council has written to Places Victoria expressing this view … prior to its request to the Minister for Planning to rezone the site.”
Cairnlea resident Benjamin Morovic said the community was running out of time.
“It appears Places Victoria is in bed with the government, so this will be an uphill battle,” he said.
“At the very least we should be pushing for another community engagement in addition to our previous points regarding heavy development.”
