By Alesha Capone
Residents of a Truganina estate say they are opposed to having apartments and townhouses built next to a shopping hub in their town centre.
Wyndham council has approved a plan from Empire Properties to build a $27 million town centre at 50 Mainview Boulevard in the Allura estate.
The plan includes three mixed-use buildings which will be used for retail, dining, medical and recreational purposes.
Other features of the plan include 69 apartments in two buildings of up to four storeys, along with townhouses and home office dwellings; a 1600 square metre supermarket; and shops such as a pharmacy, gym and restaurants.
Allura resident Pranav Sinha said he and many other residents felt “a little bit appalled” at the plans.
Mr Sinha said was “frustrated” with Wyndham council for approving the development.
He said traffic was already a major issue in the town centre, with a school across the road from the proposed development and a childcare centre next door.
“Once it goes ahead, it will be very chaotic,” he said.
“If they have … apartments and townhouses, it will have a lot of traffic.”
More than 20 residents have commented on the proposal for the town centre, at the PlanningAlerts.org.au website, with a majority reflecting Mr Sinha’s concerns about increased traffic and plans for apartments and townhouses at the centre.
Wyndham council’s director of city design and liveability, Ludo Campbell-Reid, that in 2014, the council approved a permit for a town centre development at 50 Mainview Boulevard, Truganina.
“This permit was extended a number of times and was due to expire in March 2022,” Mr Campbell-Reid said.
“Recently, the developers applied for a new permit, which has since been issued and approved.
“The new permit was issued in accordance with the Truganina South Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), a document incorporated into the Wyndham Planning Scheme.”
“The application was exempt from the third party notice and review requirements and was not advertised.”
Mr Campbell-Reid said the new permit includes a supermarket and a mix of other retail uses.
“The new permit also introduces a residential component,” he said.
“This application was also exempt from advertising.”
Empire Properties was contacted for comment.
