Council vote to avoid VCAT

COUNCIL this week voted strategically on a residential development to avoid a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing.
Springvale North Ward councillor Naim Melhem said an officer’s recommendation to refuse two extra double storey residential developments at 29 Alexander Avenue, Dandenong, should not be refused so council could decide the development’s guidelines, and not leave it to VCAT.
Cr Melhem said the developer had told him that a vote to adopt the recommended refusal would be taken straight to VCAT because he was “surprised to get the result of refusal”.
Cr Melhem said he feared VCAT would rule in favour of the developer with the guidelines, and they would then be beyond council’s control.
Cr Melhem said council was better off accepting the development so it could place “hard” guidelines on the development.
Cr John said he thought the site was ideal for the development.
Cr Donovan opposed the alternative recommendation, pointing to residents’ objections, which include loss of views, loss of sunshine, loss of privacy and its density being out of character with surrounding single storey homes.