By Jessica Micallef
A planning permit application to extend a retirement village in Woodend has been approved.
The application, from Collie Pty Ltd, proposed to add 27 dwellings as part of the extension of the retirement village at 35 Sullivans Road, Woodend and 1849 Mount Macedon Road, Woodend.
Cr Roger Jukes put forward a motion during last Wednesday’s council meeting to approve the planning permit.
“The project’s been in the community for some time now and, as we’ve seen this project grow, the application has delivered on what they said they would,” he said.
“We believe that under planning conditions, there’s no reason why the extension shouldn’t be given.”
Cr Mandi Mees highlighted the importance of older residents staying in their home town.
“There is a community need – we do have an ageing population,” she said.
“It allows our locals who are getting older to not actually have to leave the region – to be able to stay in their own village close by with their friends and their family.”
Objections raised at the meeting included how the extra dwellings fitted in with the town’s character.
Cr Jennifer Anderson said the proposal put forward was not “an appropriate use of the land”.
“I agree with Cr Jukes that this project has been before the community since 2005 and council did have the opportunity in 2017 when changes were requested to the land and design,” she said.
“Originally, this application did include aged care facilities. This is no longer the application before us.
“In fact, this takes away land that could potentially be an aged care facility because it’s a retirement village.
“There’s going to be a row of housing and roofing that will be seen – it is not in keeping with the character of what this zone is.”
She encouraged councillors to reject the permit. Councillors Jennifer Anderson, Natasha Gayfer and Helen Radnedge voted against approving the permit.
