By Casey Neill
Development in a Dandenong court has again divided Greater Dandenong councillors.
By six votes to five, they approved plans to extend the existing home and add another dwelling to 3 McNab Court at their Monday 12 September meeting.
In April, the councillors quashed plans for a three-unit development in the court after receiving 17 objections raising concerns about overdevelopment, traffic issues and neighbourhood character.
This latest application received seven objections relating to traffic, parking, and neighbourhood character.
But councillor Sean O’Reilly said this was a reasonable application because only one dwelling was being added to the block.
“Overdevelopment is normally when you’re packing them in,” he said.
“This could not, on a fair basis, be seen to be packing it in.”
He said the site was close to schools, reserves and public transport, and that bus routes serviced the area.
“Naturally residents don’t want any development in their street, I understand that,” he said.
Cr Peter Brown said the proposal would be an efficient use of the available space on the corner allotment.
“I think it’s a good application,” he said.
It was Cr Brown who introduced a successful motion to refuse the April application on the grounds that the project was an overdevelopment that did not respect neighbourhood character.
Cr Angela Long put this latest application in the same basket.
She pointed out that the two nearby schools were not government schools open to all students – Emerson School caters for students with learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities, and St Gerard’s is a Catholic primary school.
“I believe number 3 McNab Court should stay as it is,” she said.
“I believe it’s an overdevelopment of the site and the proposal will increase traffic congestion.
“People in this area are fed up with the traffic now.”
