Factory jam

By Rebecca Fraser
RESIDENTS who faced having factories built across the road from their homes applauded when the plan was rejected on Monday.
But the issue is far from resolved as they now face an uncertain future as they wait to see if the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will back the council decision.
Bryants Road residents oppose the scheme fearing children could be killed by trucks and increased traffic if the application was approved.
The proposal includes 38 industrial buildings, car parking and offices.
The application was rejected by the City of Greater Dandenong council on Monday night after councillors received seven objections and a petition containing 55 signatures opposing the plan with residents raising concerns about traffic, noise and safety.
But architect Stephen D’Andrea who is acting for the developer, said he was mystified by the decision.
“We met all council requirements,” he said. “This will most definitely go to VCAT.”
Mr D’Andrea said a meeting was organised three months ago for those who objected to the application but no one turned up.
“Of the 55 people who had signed the petition not one person turned up.
“This was disappointing as this would have been a good opportunity to discuss their concerns.
“Instead of council refusing us point black they should have suggested a few changes and then we would have looked into the suggestions,” he said.
One of the opponents, Frank Ibraimi, has lived in Bryants Road for six years and said his father also owned a house in the street.
He said if the project had gone ahead it would have spelt disaster for Dandenong and would have had a negative impact on nearby house values.
“Who wants to buy a house in front of a factory?
“Dandenong may not be the classiest area but it is really trying to build itself up and improve itself.
“All the money that is being pumped in by people building their homes would have been ruined by this application.
“This would all change if the factories had gone ahead,” he said.
Mr Ibraimi attended Monday night’s council meeting with his brother Sami and brotherinlaw Jim Memeti who also opposed the application.
They all clapped when the application was turned down.
“There is a problem with traffic in our street and in Webster Street already.
“This development would make things worse for everyone.
“It is just too dangerous to have industry and factories so close to houses especially when there are children playing nearby and Dandenong South Primary School is only about 80 metres away,” he said.
Mr Ibraimi said many trucks and semitrailers were now using the smaller back streets to escape the congestion and were creating headaches for local residents.
“Trucks and semitrailers go up and down the street every day and other drivers treat it like a dragway and drive very fast.
“When the roads are too busy people start using the small streets, even the trucks.
“One truck even clipped a power line and cut off the power to someone’s house.
“This problem just would have gotten worse,” he said.
Mr Ibraimi said they were still worried that the application could be successful.
“We are going to do whatever it takes and fight this to the end.
“No one turned up at the meeting because they did not receive letters from council with details of the meeting until after it had taken place. I was furious.
“If I had received the letter or anyone else in the street had, we would have been there,” he said.
Dandenong Ward councillor David Kelly spoke out against the application at the meeting and successfully put forward an alternative recommendation to oppose the application.
He said the industrial building would have caused animosity between residents and the factories and posed a huge safety risk.
“This would have created a situation where eventually someone would have been killed.
“The location is inappropriate kids play out in their yards and having industrial factories on one side of the road and residential properties on the other side does not work.
“Can you imagine living over the road from a factory it is not just the sight but the noise.
“It would have been an accident waiting to happen if this had gone ahead,” he said.