By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has knocked back a planning permit application to build 26 double-storey units in a Tarneit street, after receiving 67 objections to the proposal.
The council made the decision last week, despite a report from council officers recommending the plan be approved.
Cr Josh Gilligan said the proposal for 3 Onyx Way would “have a detrimental impact on the amenity of surrounding properties”.
He said if the proposal went ahead, it would result in about 156 additional vehicle movements per day in the area.
Cr Gilligan also said that putting 26 units on the block, which is about 4210 square metres, would be “an overdevelopment of the site”.
Several residents of Onyx Way – including Melanie, Kevin, Igor, Kylie, Steve and Leanne who worked together to present an objection to the proposal at a council meeting held last month – described the decision to reject the plans as “wonderful news”.
“We applaud the council for listening to our concerns, asking questions and making the right decision,” Melanie said.
“The proposed 26 units in a small space didn’t fit with our community and the surrounding roads and infrastructure didn’t support such condensed housing in the middle of an estate not close to public transport.”
Cr Henry Barlow and Cr Peter Maynard were the only councillors who voted in favour of the planning permit application.
Cr Barlow said Wyndham needed housing diversity and 3 Onyx Way was near open space and future shops.
He said the proposal also met all the local planning requirements.
“If this gets defeated tonight, the developer will take us to VCAT and we’ll have to spend several thousands dollars defending something that is probably indefensible,” he said.
Earlier this year, the council approved a separate plan to build 13 double-storey units at 1 Onyx Way, despite receiving 113 objections to the application.
