I WONDER why developers and residents have to get involved in costly and upsetting tugofwars over multiunit developments.
A wellestablished and firm planning policy for local government would prevent these fiascos because everyone would know where they were.
If developers were absolutely sure they could not build a certain type of dwelling in an area, they would be able to more wisely choose the land they buy.
If the types of dwellings were earmarked for certain areas, then people who didn’t like them wouldn’t move there.
We could all be a lot happier.
But planning regulations are ambiguous and can be decided either way so that land is targeted for multiunit development in areas that have traditional singletenement houses.
The Inglis Road, Berwick, issue is a case in point.
Both the developer and the residents think they are right and the proposed development at 50 Inglis Road that both the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the court vetoed would be highly praised in another area.
This wasn’t the case at Inglis Road and this is sad for both parties.
A 40dwelling development was proposed, but residents objected to the extent that they raised thousands of dollars to fight the application at VCAT and in the court.
Who is the winner?