Riddells Creek’s population is set to double with the approval of the Amess Road Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), igniting resident’s fears.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny announced the approval on August 26, which will bring 1360 new homes and about 3800 residents to the town.
The Riddells Creek Planning Group has been strongly advocating against the project for a number of years, and co-leader Aaron Goldsworthy said he’s worried about what this will mean for the small town.
“I’m extremely disappointed, but also not surprised given that it had been taken to the [state government’s] Development Facilitation Program,” he said.
“As it currently stands, we’ve essentially had the doubling of the town approved without the corresponding infrastructure in the rest of the town to support that growth.
“I think people are very sceptical about when that infrastructure will happen.”
Macedon Ranges council said it resolved not to support the plan in April 2023 when it was brought to council.
The developer then took it to the Development Facilitation Program, which was ultimately referred the PSP to an advisory committee by the planning minister.
Council said the site has been zoned for urban growth since 2017 under planning scheme amendment C100 and the submitted structure plan raised considerable concerns, particularly regarding drainage and infrastructure, which was amended.
Mayor Dom Bonanno said he was disappointed the PSP had been approved.
“This decision is deeply disappointing. It disregards the overwhelming community feedback and council’s concerns about the scale, intensity, and character of the proposed development,” he said.
He said any development in the area must be sustainable and reflect the unique rural character of Riddells Creek, which he says it fails to meet.
“The approval of the PSP now means council must facilitate it, however we will continue to hold the development to account in every detail, while also advocating for further support in the best interests of the community and council,” he said.
Mr Goldsworthy is also concerned about how the rural town will experience suburbanisation.
“The state government is doing significant growth (in the western suburbs) and is struggling to provide appropriate infrastructure and services,” he said.
“I think it’s reasonable for people to wonder … how is a town that small going to get the attention it needs and compete against other significant growth areas.”
