Hotel cops serve

By Paul Dunlop
A GIANT hotel proposed for Pakenham is headed for the state planning tribunal amidst fears its size and location could hamper emergency services operations.
The multimilliondollar development has been proposed to be part of the Lakeside estate.
Featuring several bars, restaurants, lounges, a gaming room and a 45room accommodation complex, it has been proposed to provide a highquality dining and entertainment hub for residents and visitors. Supporters of the development say it is desperately needed in the fastgrowing area.
But the fourlevel, 13metrehigh building’s location next to Pakenham’s new emergency services precinct has prompted opposition from Victoria Police and other authorities.
Cardinia Shire Council has also refused to support it, declaring at a meeting on Monday that the proposal was an overdevelopment of the site and could not be backed in its current form.
A decision on the hotel complex now rests with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Developers, Adelaidebased Prizac Group, have taken their plans to VCAT, claiming council failed to make its decision on time. It is proposed the hotel be built near the entrance to Lakeside and would be a feature of the estate’s village shopping area.
Cardinia District inspector Chris Major told the Gazette that police had objected to the proposal.
Councillors said they were also concerned about having such a large venue next to the recentlystarted Pakenham Emergency Services complex, which will provide a new home for police, SES and the CFA.
“The last thing we want to do is to have overdevelopment of this particular site in an area where police and emergency service vehicles could be leaving from, usually in a hurry, to do the job they must do,” Cr Doug Hamilton said.
Cr Helen Ward said she was also concerned that the proposal did not include enough car parking space but said her main opposition was based “in the interests of public safety”.
Cr Hamilton said emergency vehicles had only a few minutes to respond to callouts and could not afford delays.
Council was concerned that the traffic generated by the hotel could impede their flow.
Councillors said the proposal presented them with a difficult situation. With Pakenham growing rapidly, they said developments were needed to help provide for the rising population.
There are also plans for another big hotel to be built on the other side of the Princes Highway at the western edge of Pakenham by the Castello group.
Councillors said they were not necessarily opposed to hotel development but said it needed to be appropriate.
“One of the things desperately needed in Pakenham is accommodation,” Cr Hamilton said.
The Prizac Group declined to comment when contacted by the Gazette.