By CASEY NEILL
A PLAN to soften Dandenong’s “industrial feel” sparked intense debate at last Monday’s City of Greater Dandenong council meeting.
It centred on an application for a motor wrecking business at 46 Bennet Street, Dandenong.
Councillors voted to defer a decision on the application to 23 June, five votes to four.
A council report on the application recommended a three-metre wide landscaping strip along the site’s frontage, in accordance with local policy for industrial area design.
“The landscape bed should be provided to enhance the area and soften the appearance of the car spaces and built form on-site,” the report said.
It said the bed should include native trees, shrubs, plants and mulching.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan supported the condition and said he’d received feedback that Dandenong had “too much of an industrial feel in some parts”.
“A larger landscaped area would soften the site,” he said.
“This is about consistently applying a policy to achieve a better benefit for residents of Dandenong and visitors to the area.”
But Cr Peter Brown said the condition was unfair and “unduly onerous” for the applicant.
“I hardly think that three metres of landscaping on one site is going to improve the industrial feel of Bennet Street,” he said.
“It is an industrial area.
“We can’t turn back the clock. Bennet Street is one of our old industrial streets.”
Cr Brown said this was “one of the better-presented sites” and including a garden bed would require the applicant to rip up concrete.
“No other business in Bennet Street is subject to the same conditions,” he said.
“I’m very confident this will result in a VCAT appeal.
“If council wants to engage our solicitors to defend a VCAT appeal then so be it.”
The council’s planning, design and amenity director Jody Bosman said the idea was to consistently apply the policy to build up a desirable urban landscape over time.
“This isn’t consistent. It’s unique,” Cr Brown said.
Cr Sean O’Reilly moved a motion to defer the application.
“The applicant has had limited time to respond after agenda release,” he said.
“All they want is the opportunity to discuss the issues that they’ve raised.”
He said two and a half business days was insufficient time to examine the recommendation and prepare a submission to council in response.
“This is about natural justice,” he said.
Do you think Dandenong has “too much of an industrial feel”? Email journal@starnewsgroup.com.au or visit www.facebook.com/DandenongJournal.
