By Jaidyn Kennedy
Point Cook residents are calling on Wyndham council to reject plans to build a camping and caravan park on Point Cook Road.
In December, council received a planning permit application from Oakleigh-based developer Planning Central to build 197 cabins, 48 caravan bays and a 40-space camping area at 425 Point Cook Road.
The development would also include a reception area, entertainment room, canteen, indoor pool and spa, library, bowling space, movie room and laundry, according to plans submitted to council.
The caravan and camping park would be built next to the Starr Point Market, which has already been approved.
John Kenny, one of more than 430 people to submit a formal objection to council, said building a caravan park in the area would be inappropriate.
“It doesn’t fit the dynamic of the community and there’s been no community engagement about it – it’s not going to be a holiday park, that’s for certain,” he said.
“We [residents] don’t want to come across looking like we don’t want riff raff on our doorstep, but it could increase crime and bring down a very community-oriented suburb.”
Mr Kenny has started an online petition that has more than 1700 signatures and created a private Facebook group of more than 500 members to oppose the proposal.
He said many community members are not opposed to the vacant area being used for housing, but do not support temporary commercial accommodation.
“Most of the residents say if this was a properly community engaged plan –if this was a social housing model with social workers involved – they wouldn’t be doing this,” Mr Kenny said.
“One of the things most members of the community I have spoken to totally understand and support is everyone needs a place to live and chance in life.
“Not one person has contacted me worried about the price of their home, they are worried about the integral value and essence of their suburb.”
“Positive development is great, but throwing 197 fixed cabins in without proper consideration is not.”
“This has the risk to potentially change the entire dynamic of Point Cook.
The estimated $1.8 million cost to deliver the project outlined by the developer in the application was another point of contention.
“The submission is very lazy, as it notes $1.8 million in the total cost – you would be lucky to build a few houses on that,” Mr Kenny said.
He said many also disagree with the traffic impact assessment report that estimates the number of vehicles travelling in the area during afternoon peak times will rise from 304 to 375 per hour, with many residents believing that the increase will be much higher.
Mr Kenny said he and the other objecting residents would continue the fight even if council approved the application.
‘If the councillors vote for it, we will potentially take the council to [the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal],” he said.
“If the developer takes council to VCAT we will have a group of volunteers in the community who will continue to push back against it.”
Wyndham planning and liveability director Eric Braslis said council is assessing the planning application and that all objections are considered as part of the assessment process.
The process is open for consultation and council will not make a decision on the permit before Thursday, May 22.
Planning Central was contacted for comment.
