Elsie Lange
Hume council has given the green light to a double storey dwelling in Crosbie Court in Sunbury, despite neighbourhood concerns.
The proposal for renovations to an existing single storey level and an addition of another, two-storey dwelling would make it the first double storey on the street.
At a council meeting on Monday, September 26, court resident Des McMaster spoke against the council officers’ recommendation to give the go-ahead.
Mr McMaster, a resident of the court for 40 years, said despite the proposal meeting planning requirements, it did not speak to the reality of what it would be.
“Despite ticking these [planning] boxes, and many others, the proposal is not sympathetic to street amenity,” Mr McMaster said.
“It pretends to deliver superb benefits to the aged and impaired, and it certainly does not do that.
“Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this proposal will result in significantly increased congestion, frustration and traffic risk.”
Councillor Jarrod Bell said planning in Victoria did “not seek for outcomes that everyone is happy with”.
“Planning in this state seeks for acceptable outcomes under the scheme and acceptable is a very specific word as to how it applies in Victorian planning law,” Cr Bell said.
“Acceptable is, unfortunately, as our resident mentioned, is the ticking of those boxes.
“He’s explained the way planning in this state works to a tee – it is a box ticking exercise and all too often our decision here is almost an approval of the inevitable.”
Councillor Trevor Dance was the only one to vote against the proposal and said it was important to respect the people who already live in the court.
“We need to, as councillors, be responsible in looking after the interests of existing residents as well,” he said.
Councillor Karen Sherry said it would be foolish for the council to reject the application.
“More people are going to be coming into Melbourne and more people are going to want to live in places like Sunbury, it’s a wicked problem,” Cr Sherry said.
“Of course we don’t want to build all these cookie cutter town houses, but on the other hand, if we don’t, we’ll have suburbs all the way to Albury.”
