By Charlene Gatt
MARIBYRNONG’S Edgewater residents are gearing up for a long battle after a controversial $23 million development has been taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Prizac Development and George Adams – the respective landowner and developer of 31 Edgewater Boulevard – last week lodged an appeal against Maribyrnong City Council’s decision to refuse a planning permit in May.
The original application included a four-storey hotel, bistro, café, and a pokies venue with 65 machines – which has now been increased to 70.
A liquor licence that ran from 7am to 3am was also on the cards. The appeal is based on seven grounds.
The council refused to grant a permit in May and said it was an inappropriate development for the area.
The decision was met with applause from more than 100 residents.
Enzo De Fazio, spokesperson for the Edgewater Community Association (ECA) subcommittee Residents Against Inappropriate Development in Maribyrnong (RAIDM), said the appeal was not unexpected.
He said the group was concerned by VCAT’s growing reputation for approving applications that councils opposed – but vowed the residents would give it their all.
“Of course it worries us, and that’s why we’re continuing to work hard and throw everything at it,” he said.
“(We’re) not resting on our laurels. From our point of view, its just all systems go.
“The momentum’s still there, and the fight is still on.”
Mr De Fazio said the residents did not want situations like the recent assault outside Angler’s Tavern happening on their doorsteps.
The City of Maribyrnong had the second-highest poker machine expenditure for the 2006-07 financial year, with $1148 per adult.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation has yet to grant a permit for the poker machines. A hearing date has not been set.
Fellow resident and president of the ECA Ian Tippet said the residents had not ruled out taking class action against Delfin Lend Lease, which sold the site to Mr Adams.
“Delfin never ever made anybody aware that this type of development would be in our midst, and there’s a lot of anger from practically all of the residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs have wiped their hands of the ruckus.
A spokesperson said the Bulldogs would only be interested in taking up a lease on the development if the VCAT application was successful.
Maribyrnong City Council declined to comment, saying it did not want to jeopardise the outcome of the appeal.
A date for the appeal has not been set.
