People power push on plan

By Jade Lawton
THE controversial development proposed for Lyall Road has prompted some to push for more community involvement in the planning of Berwick Village.
Since key community figures called a public meeting in June, objections to the six-level hotel, retail and supermarket complex have risen by about 60 per cent, with 245 now lodged with Casey Council.
The people power push has also seen concerned residents, traders and members of the National Trust form an independent committee to oversee the progress of the application. But documents from a Berwick Village Steering Committee Meeting, held on Monday 15 June have not yet been made public.
The slides show the Lyall Road and Anne Street site, currently vacant, has been marked as a major retail destination under the Melbourne 2030 plan, along with two other areas in the village.
It also shows the development can be up to four storeys, despite previous concerns that development on the site, part of the Berwick Village Commercial Strategy Plan adopted in 1990 to guide development in the village, should be no more than three storeys.
One resident accused City of Casey planners of ‘moving the goalposts’
“The Berwick Activity Centre, as mapped out for ratification under the 2030 plan, is still in the discussion phase when other activity centres have been finalised months ago. Both developers and the community are in limbo with no surety of how the activity centre will develop. Clearly procrastination by the previous council and the planners has let down the community,” he said.
Berwick resident Ian Chisholm, a former member of the now-defunct Berwick and District Community Action group, said he was concerned about a lack of community involvement in the 2030 plan.
“The planners are very approachable but they say the community will get their chance to respond when they have done the final version; meanwhile lots of things are happening which public don’t know about,” he said.
City of Casey Acting Director Planning and Development Services Duncan Turner said the steering committee of the Berwick Village Structure Plan included representatives from the State Government, Council and Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce, with the local branch of the National Trust recently invited to join.
Mr Turner said the meeting on 15 June included discussion of the urban design and land use framework plans, local character, and transport access.
He said the minutes, once agreed, would be made available from council on request.
“Council is committed to ensuring everyone in the community has an opportunity to provide their views on this important project so council has conducted a variety of community consultation opportunities at various stages in the structure planning process, including resident focus groups and visitor surveys,” he said
“Council will be eager to receive more public feedback on a draft structure plan through a public exhibition process later in the year,” he said.
But Mr Chisholm said residents deserved a say in the future of the village.
“I’m happy for 2030 to apply to Berwick as long as it’s done in consultation with Berwick,” he said.
“I would like to see more consultation to keep us informed. The internet is a logical way – I feel sorry for people who are buying their houses without knowing what’s happening.”