Character building ‘the aim’

By Paul Dunlop
THE populations of Garfield and Bunyip are expected to double over the next decade, but Cardinia Shire Council is confident growth can be managed without destroying the townships’ character.
Residents at a meeting held to discuss planning strategies for the two railway towns were told every effort would be made to retain their unique charms with ‘suburban’ type development ruled out.
Managing growth of the rural towns is a key challenge for the council with residents keen to protect their lifestyle and preserve the character of the towns.
The meeting was convened by Bunyip Ward councillor Bill Pearson.
More than 100 people attended the twohour session, held at the Bunyip Hall in Main Street.
Cr Pearson was happy with the response from residents. He said the meeting was meant to allay concerns about the impact of future development on the rural towns.
“People are not objecting to development as long as it doesn’t spoil the open feel of the towns,” he said.
Residents heard presentations from Cardinia Shire’s strategic planning manager Phil Walton and town planner Meredith Kermode.
The need for improvements to road and drainage infrastructure was highlighted at the meeting.
Other matters discussed included the effects of the Melbourne 2030 Strategy, the Pakenham Bypass, the Bunyip and Garfield Town Strategy, and a plan to retain the rural identity of Cardinia’s historic railway towns.
Cr Pearson said the Pakenham Bypass would bring added growth pressures to the area but emphasised the expansion would be kept within the defined town boundaries and restricted to areas between the Princes Highway and the railway line.
Farming areas to the north and south would be protected, he said.
“We expect the populations in both towns will double in the next 10 or certainly 20 years,” Cr Pearson said.
“Bunyip is likely to grow to about 4500 residents from currently about 1800 while Garfield is expected to peak about 1800 residents and its population is now 600 to 700.”
Cr Pearson said council’s township strategies for Bunyip and Garfield — currently on public display — proposed strict guidelines on minimum block sizes.
He said this was a response to residents’ concerns about high density unit development.
The strategy seeks to restrict the size of block sizes to a minimum of 750 square metres for a single house and 450 square metres for each unit in a multiunit development.
Cr Pearson said this would result in block sizes much bigger than was currently the case in growth areas such as Pakenham and Beaconsfield.
Township character assessments have also been prepared for Kooweerup and Lang Lang.
Residents have until 31 May to make submissions to the council.