Our Neighbourhood Character Under Threat
The Victorian Government has found willing allies in some local government areas to push for planning changes to the detriment of our suburbs - under the guise of pursuing more affordable housing.
In other areas the community has rebelled - big time. What will happen when Banyule property owners wake up to the emerging drama here in our streets?
Take the example of Dingley Village, where local residents have forced a years-long stalemate on redeveloping a golf course as an 823 residence housing estate.
AustralianSuper bought Kingswood Golf Course in 2014 and has fought ever since to develop it. Its first attempt was stymied in 2018 when Kingston Council abandoned its rezoning after 8000 resident objections.
The State Government took the rezoning matter out of Kingston Council's hands - five years after the last round of golf was played there is still no housing.
AustralianSuper is said to have paid too much at $99 to 124 million for a golf course to allow for sporting, recreation and community facilities to be included in the proposed housing development.
Locals claim if this was a properly planned integrated community their objections to adding 2000 new residents would have ceased.
The Age has a current article claiming this farcical situation still persists today.
With such "lost" opportunities to develop open land for housing we are now faced with our southern Banyule suburban streets being encroached by 5 story housing blocks anywhere - and 10 stories in certain locations.
Add to this scenario the re-development hiatus at the Bell- Bardia and other "postcode 3081" locations.
The Banyule Council planning staff have been pushing an alleged need for the Council's housing and neighbourhood character strategies to be modified to allow so-called medium density housing - i.e. up to 5 story housing!
If this strategy is adopted you kiss goodbye to any planning appeal rights - based on heights of up to and including 5 stories - right next door to your home.
The alleged shortage of metropolitan housing land is a cruel hoax on inner & middle suburban home owners.
Demand your Council abandon this unnecessary medium density housing approach - demand your council advocates to the State Government for the State Government to acquit its housing responsibilities otherwise than by desecrating existing suburbs with neighbourhood character and heritage values.
Member discussion