A proposed 60-unit development at the former Sunvale Primary School has been knocked back by Brimbank council on the grounds that it poses a risk to human health.
The council blocked an original plan for 79 units and a cafe at the site in March.
An appeal of that decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) forced plans to be amended, and an agreement was reached. However, the council rejected the new plans last month.
Brimbank council paid $3.025 million last year for 1.1 hectares of the former school site to develop a public park. A private developer acquired a section of the site earlier this year. However the state government has been negotiating with the developer to buy back the land.
Last month a council report stated: “The responsible authority is not satisfied that soil and groundwater contamination of the land and adjoining land will not have a significant effect on the development”.
“The applicant has failed to complete an environmental audit [to confirm] that the land is suitable for the proposal.”
The council said the developer must ensure there was “no risk to human health”.
“It is considered necessary for an environmental audit of the site to be conducted prior to the commencement of any development,” the report stated.
The council also said an insufficient number of car spaces had been provided, and it found the development would destroy trees.
VCAT will hold a merits hearing on August 10.
One source told Star Weekly the developer had put together a $500,000 ‘war chest’ to take on the council at the hearing.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said the government had room in its budget for the possible buy-back of the land from the developer, but was “waiting until all planning matters have been resolved before proceeding further”.
“The community has fought long and hard for a successful resolution, and the [Brimbank] council’s support is crucial,” she said.
A state government spokesman said it had “negotiated in good faith to reacquire the former Sunvale Primary School site”, but to date had been unable to reach agreement with the purchaser.
The developer did not respond to Star Weekly’s request for comments.
