By ALESHA CAPONE
A WESTERN suburbs MP has called on the State Government to conduct a study to investigate how a proposed development could impact upon the Cairnlea Primary School and kindergartens.
Last year, Places Victoria launched a proposal to build more than 146 townhouses, 50 apartments and 80 commercial mixed-use spaces on land bordered by Cairnlea Dve and Ballarat Rd.
The application will also involve removing 300 mature sugar gum trees because they will pose a high risk to the people moving into Cairnlea’s new residential zone, according to a report from January 2012.
More than 60 residents have signed a petition against the redevelopment and formed a group called No Industrial Zone for Cairnlea.
In Parliament, MP Khalil Eideh appealed to the Minister for Planning to ask Places Victoria to restart the community consultation process on the project.
Mr Eideh said the Government should “conduct a study on the impact the suggested proposal will have on the Cairnlea Primary School and Cairnlea kindergartens”.
In addition he labelled the development a “concrete jungle”.
“It is a proposal that will see unlimited industrial factories constructed on the gateway to the Cairnlea housing estate and the destruction of valuable mature sugar gum trees,” Mr Eideh said
“It completely ignores the promise made to residents that 30 per cent of Cairnlea would remain open space.”
“More than 9000 people would be affected by the proposed development.
“I have been advised that Places Victoria has now declared that there will be no industrial sites, but it will now push ahead for a commercial one and general residential zone.
“That means it is now looking to build retail, office, and business developments and – wait for it – an entertainment centre!
“The residents are asking, ’will this mean a brothel or a night club?’”
A Places Victoria spokesperson said after public consultation last year, it made changes to the draft masterplan for the Cairnlea site including increasing the proposed residential area and removing industrial land use areas.
