Zoe Moffatt
Macedon Ranges council has refused to support an application to build a 183 dwelling retirement village in Kyneton citing density and vegetation concerns.
Viva Lifestyle Villages had applied for a permit to build the village, which would include a community centre, recreation facilities and a men’s shed, at 106 Edgecombe Road and 3 Baynton Road.
Council’s decision to knock back the proposal at a meeting on 22 March, follows Viva’s appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after council failed to make a decision on the application within the 60 statutory day timeframe.
Council said it was unable to make a decision within the timeframe as it was waiting on further information.
West Ward Councillor Mark Ridgeway, who voted to reject the permit, said there has been concern over the years about traffic management in the area.
“Residents over a number of years have raised concerns over traffic management on the major intersection closer to that proposal, which is Saleyards Road, Edgecombe Road and Pipers Creek Road,” he said.
“If this proposal was to go ahead, it would only likely exacerbate those traffic issues which are already present and degenerating.”
Cr Ridgeway said while the proposal addresses the significant need for affordable housing for seniors in Kyneton, it is an inappropriate residential development for the area.
“The development is contrary to the environmental significance overlay,” he said. “Officers have also raised concerns on the impact of biodiversity in native vegetation in the area.”
West Ward Councillor Janet Pearce agreed with Cr Ridgeway, and raised concerns with the location of the development, which would sit just out of the settlement boundary.
“The development is a few “significant kilometers away from town but it’s also across the Calder, near where there’s high density impact with traffic and trucks,” Cr Pearce said.
“It would be very car reliant at the moment to connect into town.”
Cr Ridgeway said the planned development “doesn’t tick enough boxes as it stands.”
VCAT has scheduled a compulsory conference over the matter on March 29.
