By Alesha Capone
Up to 240 new residences could be constructed in Point Cook, after Wyndham council voted in favour of re-zoning a 15.12 hectare section of land in the suburb.
Wyndham council last week approved an amendment to rezone 315 Boardwalk Boulevard from a Farming Zone to a General Residential Zone.
The council also voted to apply a new schedule to the Development Plan Overlay on the land, which has been vacant since the 1960s, “to facilitate future orderly residential development”.
The council will send the amendment to the Minister for Planning for approval.
Under the amendment, 12.41 hectares of the land could be used to develop housing, while 3.94 hectares of drainage reserves along Boardwalk Boulevard could include a wetland area.
The developers will also be required to transfer 0.75ths of a hectare of land to Wyndham council, for use as public open space.
The council received 10 objections to the rezoning of the land, for reasons including the impact of increased traffic; a loss of open space; and amenity impacts on adjoining dwellings.
A submission from the nearby Featherbrook College said there was an “urgent need” for a community leisure centre, including a public pool, in Point Cook.
The school’s submission said Aquapulse, in Hoppers Crossing, “was unable to meet community demand and the increasing needs of schools to provide swimming programs forcing it to use facilities outside the municipality”.
The college’s submission suggested a 50-metre pool be installed at the Boardwalk Boulevard site, to meet community needs.
However, an independent planning panel which conducted a hearing into the concerns recommended that the rezoning amendment be adopted by council.
