By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
AN apartment block in one of Dandenong’s most historic streets has been approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, despite opposition from Greater Dandenong council and residents.
Residents had last year railed against the three-storey, 12-apartment proposal at 30 MacPherson Street, saying such development was “killing the old Dandenong”.
Their views prevailed on Greater Dandenong council, however VCAT approved a revised two-storey building with 12 apartments.
For neighbour Patsy Horne, the revised version has still too much “bulk and mass”.
“It’s going to be claustrophobic. It’s going to overshadow my home. It’s not the right type of building for a residential street like this.”
She said the decision confirmed the council’s zoning of the street was wrong.
“I fear what’s going to happen to our children? They won’t want to just live in apartments.”
The site, which is near several historic homes, had been deemed part of Residential 2 Zone – which encourages medium and high-density multi-storey development. Under that zone, objecting neighbours were barred from having a say at VCAT.
The site is included in the residential periphery area of the Dandenong Principal Activity Centre, which permits up to four storeys.
“If I hate [these apartments] and I move out, whoever buys my home may knock it down.”
Councillor John Kelly added his voice to a resident-led push for stricter planning controls in Dandenong’s surrounding residential streets, as the council is in the midst of a review of its planning zone boundaries.
He agreed with councillors Matthew Kirwan and Jim Memeti that zone 2 needed to be wound back to include central Dandenong, taking particular exception to a “deplorable” three-storey, 27-unit apartment proposal in Grace Avenue.
The avenue is like scores of others near central Dandenong within a four-square-kilometre, Residential 2 Zone, which the council has exempted from third-party notification and right-of-appeal for planning applications.
The affected Residential 2 Zone streets include the areas bounded by:
■ Pultney Street, Dandenong Creek, Clow Street and Foster Street.
■ Clow Street, Ross Street, David Street and Princes Highway.
■ Railway Parade, just west of Robinson Street, Princes Highway and Jones Road.
Cr Kirwan said last week the “disappointing” outcome at 30 MacPherson Street showed the importance of taking the street out of zone 2.
