By Max Hatzoglou
Cairnlea residents are calling on the community to make a submission on the planned development on the former Albion Explosive Factory site.
Development Victoria is proposing to build social and affordable housing on the site. The community has until Thursday, April 7 to have its say on the project.
Resident Graeme Blore, who has raised a number of concerns about the development, said this was the community’s “last chance to save Cairnlea”.
Mr Blore said issues with the proposal include the lack of diversity in housing to cater for larger families and the remediation process of soil that was formerly used by the explosives factory.
Other issues raised include the removal of 300 mature gum trees that are a unique feature of Cairnlea.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn described the proposal as “a dog’s breakfast”.
“From building a children’s playground on asbestos-riddled soil to chopping down 300 mature gum trees, problems abound,” Mr Finn said.
Brimbank council city development director Kelvin Walsh said the proposed plan would see major changes to Cairnlea and that council has informed Development Victoria of community concerns.
“Council has objections also to Development Victoria seeking to make the planning minister the responsible authority for specific permits on the site, and for the minister to be the planning authority for the proposed planning scheme amendment,” he said.
“Both the planning and responsible authority roles generally sit with the local government under the Planning and Environment Act.
“These roles and responsibilities are a fundamental obligation of local government.
“In 2021, council wrote to … Richard Wynne, planning minister, advising that council objected to being stripped of its powers in relation to this development.”
Mr Walsh said council had prepared a submission on the development, which would be considered at the April 19 council meeting.
“Council officers are preparing a submission to the proposal currently being exhibited in Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendment C222.
“The submission will address council’s and the community’s concerns about Development Victoria’s proposal, including development contributions, provision of community infrastructure, particularly given none of the community and other infrastructure identified by Development Victoria forms part of council’s long term budget,” he said.
Development Victoria ‘s Penny Forrest said the development would deliver affordable housing near schools, jobs and other services.
“Our townhouses are environmentally sustainable, making them cheaper to run – and we will also plant 3000 new trees that, when mature, will provide around 30 per cent shade cover – making the estate one of the highest tree canopy cover areas on average in Melbourne,” she said.
