By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
NEIGHBOURS fear proposed paintball fields in Bangholme will be a blot on their rural green-wedge serenity.
Resident Bruce Lindsay, whose property takes in a stunning Dandenong Ranges vista at dawn, said the proposed five fields at 135 Soden Road would be irritatingly audible across the flat, open paddocks.
Locals dub the area ’Pleurisy Plains’ for the biting winds that sweep the land unhindered.
There would be little to break the sound of constant “firecracker”-like sounds of paintball guns and barking instructors from nearly 300 metres away from his fenceline, Mr Lindsay said.
Currently, residents hear the drone of Springvale Road traffic and “the occasional dog barking, horses neighing, cows mooing, sheep bleating and ride-on mowers”.
Mr Lindsay said his view would be blighted by a 246-metre long perimeter mesh fence; his amenity ruined by increased traffic on the narrow road for up to 46 patrons and staff for up to three sessions of three hours on Saturdays.
Another opponent and resident Lesley Rixon says her family moved in 25 years ago to keep and ride horses on the flood-prone former Carrum Carrum Swamp land.
She said the area’s roads including a busy Pillars-Springvale roads intersection could not cope with more cars, especially in peak-time or a flood or bushfire evacuation.
KLM Spatial, in its application on behalf of proponent Troy Charlesworth, stated the proposal was consistent with the council’s vision for the lowlands precinct, that is as a recreational use which retains the area’s “open rural landscape character”.
The paintballs would be made of non-toxic, quickly biodegradeable material that would not reach Smythes Drain about 400 metres north, it stated.
In a letter to the council in May, KLM’s Jonathan Jackson said the distances from dwellings had been extended and “substantially address concerns from surrounding residents with respect to noise and amenity impacts”.
“The capacity of Soden Road is a matter which requires (the) council’s consideration from a servicing and ratepayer perspective and should not be a matter which detrimentally impacts upon the use of this land for the intended purpose.”
Councillor Matthew Kirwan said the green wedge was not generally suitable for the activity.
“I realise that paintball is an allowed use in the green wedge as dictated by the State Government but it is not consistent with what makes the green wedge so important – open space, agriculture and the environment.”
Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman said the council was assessing the application.
