Developers rule

SINCE the last local elections it has become evident that some in council seem happy to capitulate to the wishes of developers, as opposed to what might be in the best interests of the community.
A recent example in Beaconsfield was council’s approval of reduced parking pertaining to an office development on the westbound side of the Old Princes Highway.
The result is insufficient parking for the staff and customers, forcing many to park on the eastbound, uncurbed side of the highway.
Hot on the heels of this fiasco, consent was given for a doctor’s surgery to open in close proximity.
The planning scheme required 11 parking spaces.
Council, at the developer’s behest, accepted four.
Now an application for a new group of shops, almost adjacent to the above mentioned offices, is pending.
A request for reduced parking was backed by a majority of the Town Planning Committee at its 7 November meeting. The only dissenting voice was that of Cr Bill Ronald.
Would it be so difficult for council to suggest to these people that if they can’t provide the necessary infrastructure then less, or smaller shops or offices on that particular site might be appropriate?
If not, find a larger site.
A similar stance is also needed in regard to the development of residential land.
Too often applications are approved without due consideration being given to the damaging implications such as congested roads, dangerous intersections, streets too narrow for emergency vehicles, overloaded drainage systems, lack of child care facilities and so on.
Development is necessary but, typically, developers take their profits and move on, having overburdened an already inadequate and faltering infrastructure.
Residents are left disaffected and cynical and, just to top things off, are slugged with long-term, fixed rate increases that outstrip inflation (and in the face of a supposed fall in property values), plus a $100 levy to boot.
While I applaud those will to give their time to the community, some of our representatives sadly appear incapable of predicting the short and long-term consequences of their decisions.
Others, in their haste to wring the last dollar out of every rateable square metre of land, simply may not care.
Some may even find the council environment too intimidating or controlling.
So please, scrutinise the track record of each incumbent as well as the credentials of the candidates and, with a degree of luck, we’ll finish up with a council that has foresight, discernment and a spine.
John Feehan,
Beaconsfield.