By Tate Papworth
Albion residents have had a victory in their fight to stop an “inappropriate” development going ahead.
Brimbank council has rejected the application for a permit to develop nine double-storey dwellings across 52, 54 and 56 Selwyn Street. The council said the proposal did not respect neighbourhood character and would be a case of over-development.
Neighbouring resident Samantha Fitzgerald said commonsense had prevailed.
“This was quite personal to us – we live right behind the proposed development, so aside from the points brought up in the rejection notice, we have all our children’s bedroooms along the side where the rear of the nine proposed properties would be,” she said.
“We bought our property 18 months ago knowing the houses were for sale and that a development would replace them, but never in our lives did we expect there to be nine double-storey dwellings put there.
“Council gave us permit to put a pool in our backyard, but with rear-facing windows looking down right over the backyard, it’s hardly a private place to lay down and relax, especially when our daughters become teenagers.”
Ms Fitzgerald suspects it won’t be the last residents hear of the situation.
“We know we probably have a VCAT fight on our hands,” she said. “We’re estimating that’s where they’ll take it, unless they’re reasonable about points. We’re fairly confident we’ll prevail through VCAT – as residents and council we need to come together to make sure commonsense prevails.”
The council noted the location of parking was an issue not addressed in the planning application.
Ms Fitzgerald said the safety of residents was a major concern.
“Our objections weren’t unreasonable – this was going to create further traffic problems,” she said. “There’s lots of children walking through the area and a lot of young families around.
“It’s already a narrow street in parts, so the extra traffic and lack of parking spaces is a real safety concern.”
