‘Enclave’ fails again

By Jim Mynard
CASEY councillors have given the final no to a proposed 40dwelling enclave development on two lots at 50 Inglis Road, Berwick.
Potential loss of trees, loss of community walkways, and over development appear to be the main issues that put a stopper to the proposal.
The council in 2003 first approved the application, but the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) overturned the decision during mid 2004 on appeal by residents in the area.
The Supreme Court later rejected an application by the proponent to have the VCAT decision overturned.
The proponent then unsuccessfully resubmitted a revised plan to the council on Tuesday, 13 September.
Casey mayor Neil Lucas said the council should abide by the umpire’s decision, and argued that the revised plan would accommodate VCAT concerns, save the trees and provide walkways.
Araluen Ward councillor Rob Wilson said that although he was not a great supporter of enclave developments he thought the new plan was a suitable compromise.
However, other councillors strongly opposed the new application.
Cr Lucas said a petition from 230 residents opposing the development was before the council, but things were not that simple.
He said if councillors agreed with every objection to developments, then the homes in which the objectors lived would not have been built.
“I can remember that area when it was covered with trees and there were birds everywhere,” he said.
Myuna Ward councillor Brian Oates said the proposal was an over development and not respectful of the area.
He said it would create a gated community that was undesirable in view of the surrounding area.
“I believe this application was submitted in the hope that the court decision would have been favourable to the developer, but it wasn’t.
“This applicant has good developments, I believe he can come up with a development that is suitable to the character of this area,” he said.
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford said he was opposed to over development in the area and said in its present form the development would be a travesty.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler said that 20 years ago an agreement was made that walkways would lead to the high school on Edwin Flack Reserve.
He said also that the proposal did not leave enough space to protect trees on the site and that the developer had totally ignored the pedestrian links in that community.
“We have seen this application before and it is back with us, but dos not meet VCAT expectations,” he said.