WYNDHAM Council has denied a permit for a six townhouse development in Hoppers Crossing after dozens of neighbours voiced objections.
Councillors last week unanimously rejected an application for six townhouses on a parcel of land at 30 Wynarka Drive.
Thirty-eight submissions have been lodged with the council objecting to the proposed development.
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Cr Shane Bourke welcomed the decision to refuse a permit, saying the application failed to comply with several aspects of the council’s planning scheme, particularly neighbourhood character, vehicle access and car parking.
“Whether it was one or 38 objections, if you live in this particular street, with six more dwellings looking over your side fence or back fence, I would be extremely concerned,” he said. “It was almost a no-brainer.”
Cr Bob Fairclough said the six townhouses, of 40 square metres each, would have brought about a “dramatic change” in neighbourhood character. He said the townhouse blocks were far smaller than the average 2000-square-metre lots in the rest of the Wynarka Drive.
“Hopefully this will serve as a message to other developers considering similar over-the-top developments in the area.”
Wynarka Drive resident Miriam Galea, who lives two houses from the proposed site, objected to the permit because there were “too many houses”, it was “too cramped” and it “didn’t fit with the neighbourhood”.
“There are no buildings at the back of our houses, or buildings overlooking us; there were privacy issues with the plans,” she said.
“We all have big gardens, and everyone’s proud of their gardens, some even have fruit and vegetables.
“We all bought for different reasons and we’re all good neighbours.”
