Elsie Lange
Riddells Creek residents are rejoicing after Macedon Ranges council rejected an 11 dwelling proposal, despite council officers recommending council grant a planning permit.
At a town planning meeting on Wednesday, May 11, council discussed the permit application at 4 Richardson Street, which received 17 objections during the period it was advertised for public comment.
It was councillor Rob Guthrie who raised the alternative motion for council to issue a notice of refusal to the developer.
“I have listened to the community and believe that council must respond by representing their views and refuse this application,” Cr Guthrie said.
Issues raised by residents during the engagement process related to neighbourhood character, density, environmental and amenity impacts, traffic and parking concerns.
However, Cr Geoff Neil was against Cr Guthrie’s amended motion, arguing the decision would ultimately be taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and suggested a deferral of a vote for a month.
“I know that the end result is going to cost the entire community a little bit of money, and I’m not quite sure whether knocking back a unit development in total is the best way to achieve a good planning outcome,” Cr Neil said.
Cr Anne Moore rebutted Cr Neil’s assertion, and said taking an item to VCAT was a decision of an applicant, “it’s not a decision of council on what may or may not be taken to VCAT”.
“We’re here to judge an application under its merits,” Cr Moore said.
Cr Annette Death said there was a high degree of community interest in the issue, and it had been made “very clear” residents felt the development was “excessive”.
“This does not mean that infill housing diversity is not important, as one resident said and I quote, ‘Most residents of Richardson Street accept that development is inevitable, inevitable does not mean acceptable’,” Cr Death said.
In a local Facebook group, Save Riddells Creek, residents commented on an update by Cr Annette Death following the meeting.
“Woohoo common sense has won in this instance. Let’s hope [VCAT] also show some sense, however that isn’t always the case unfortunately,” one resident said.
