St Albans residents have accused Brimbank council of treating them like second-class citizens with its new 10-year housing strategy.
One expressed fears of ‘ghettos’ and others complained of serious parking problems.
More than 60 people objected to the plan, dubbed Home and Housed, which was released to coincide with three new state government residential zones to be introduced by June 30.
Many said St Albans – Brimbank’s most densely populated planning district – would not be able to cater for population increases under the new residential growth zone, designed to foster townhouse and apartment development. The study said St Albans would add 78 houses a year to 2021.
“Residents are already parking on the road,” one submission stated. “Issues include . . . the inability of emergency service vehicles in negotiating these streets.”
Another resident objected to council plans to increase high-density accommodation – 1810 lots – in an already densely populated suburb.
“St Albans has four times the population density of Keilor and two times that of the rest of Brimbank, yet has been targeted to have 1810 high-density lots,’’ the submission said. ‘‘Why is St Albans being targeted? Deer Park has twice the annual population increase [projected for St Albans]; it has a railway station and only half the population density yet zero high-density lots.”
Another resident, who said they often saw 10 cars outside three units on Helen Street, submitted: “I have grave concerns for St Albans and its future if we continue to overcrowd and create ghettos.”
Another resident complained of often being blocked in by up to seven cars outside a neighbouring property.
“We could not enter our own property without asking them to move their cars,” the submission said.
But a council letter to residents stated: “It is important to note that not all land in this [residential growth] zone will be fully developed.”
The plan, which will be reviewed in 2016, was adopted last Tuesday night.
Administrator Jane Nathan conceded the changes would not suit everybody.
“We are close to Melbourne, so it’s a time for major change and we need to be ready for it,” she said.
“We’ve had some quality submissions from the community, but this will provide clarity and consistency.”
Chairman John Watson said introduction of the new residential zones would provide certainty about what type of houses could be built across the municipality.
