Developer defends Lyall Road plan

By Jade Lawton
DEVELOPER Paul Harmon has this week replied to critics of his controversial development proposed for Lyall Road, Berwick, as objections to the plan topped the 300 mark.
Harmon Group has lodged an application with the City of Casey for a six-level hotel, including retail and office space, along with a reduction in car parking, for 1-9 and 11-17 Lyall Road.
And despite the objections, Mr Harmon insists the development is appropriate.
“This development represents a substantial investment in Berwick and will occupy a currently vacant site with an active, attractive and contemporary building form,” he said.
“The proposed 4.5 star residential hotel and conference/function facilities will provide much-needed quality accommodation and facilities to attract more businesses and tourists to the area.
“The development responds appropriately to its designation as a major activity centre under the government’s Melbourne 2030 policy,” he said.
Mr Harmon said there was no truth to a rumour that Harmon Group was considering building something smaller on the site.
“The proposal was developed in consultation with the council’s urban design team and it is felt that it represents an appropriate intensity of development for this key site in Berwick,” he said.
The development would also create 150 direct jobs during construction and 450 when completed, he said.
The planning application has attracted 320 submissions so far, less than other controversial developments to raise community ire in Casey recently – including an application for 60 poker machines at Casey Towers, Narre Warren, which attracted 416 submissions, and an application for a place of worship in Narre Warren North, which saw a huge 533 objections lodged with Casey Council.
Opponents to the development have said it does not comply with the Berwick Village Commercial Strategy plan and would be drastically different to the village’s current buildings.
There are also concerns the facility would place further strain on the village’s parking and congestion problems and encourage noisy and anti-social behaviour.
A lobby group of residents and traders against the development this week sent a petitioned objection to Casey’s planning department, all Casey councillors and three local MPs.
Spokeswoman Annette Aldersea said the group wanted to ensure all residents and councillors knew the facts ahead of the 28 July planning meeting, where it is expected councillors will vote on the application.
“We want to make sure people are getting the full facts, for example the liquor licence being seven days a week until 1am. We want to keep the word out there, it is amazing how many people are still unaware,” she said.
“People should still keep writing in. If people haven’t objected already it’s not too late. We’ve been really encouraged to see all the residents and traders who are still passionate about the village, and it’s been nice to see the community working together.”
Mrs Aldersea said she was “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of the planning meeting.