By Ann Marie
THE former RAAF airfield in Laverton could start changing into a housing estate and employment area as early as the end of the year, says its developer.
Nathan Blackburne, Victorian manager of Perth-based developer, Cedar Woods Properties, says he’s hopeful work will start soon on the 275-hectare site.
The company bought the airfield from the Commonwealth Government in 1998 for about $9 million.
Over the next 15 years, it plans to turn it into a $1 billion development for about 6500 residents, with several shopping and office areas, and jobs for about 5000 people.
The development is designed to include a long-awaited railway station for Point Cook, as well as extensions to Old Geelong and Palmers Rds.
It may also include a rail freight line to service future industries in North Truganina.
But concerns remain over the project between the Wyndham City Council, the developer and environmentalists.
The council is keen to carry out an original plan to develop the area as mainly an employment hub, with offices and business parks.
Cr Henry Barlow said the last thing the council wanted was more housing estates in Wyndham.
“We’ve got thousands of house lots and more land than we know what to do with,” he said.
“This site should be about jobs.”
Mr Blackburne said issues were gradually being resolved with the aid of an independent priority development panel.
The panel is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether the council or the State Government will control the project.
Mr Blackburne said the possible involvement of the State Government was unusual, but necessary, since the project had regional significance and a number of government departments would eventually be involved.
Cr Leigh Barrett said the council would fight hard to remain the project’s planning authority because of various “major concerns”.
He said he objected to plans to devote about 35,000 square metres of the development to large showroom retailing similar to the furniture and bedding shops of Old Geelong Rd.
“I question the viability of so much of it even there,” he said.
Cr Barrett said a plan for additional smaller retail outlets, similar in area to the Hoppers Crossing shopping centre, was also undesirable, since it would compete with the future Boardwalk Town Centre project.
“We don’t need more homemaker centres but how about high-value industries?” he said.
About 45,000 square metres of office space is proposed.
Environmentalists also see problems with the Cedar Woods development.
Frances Overmars, grassland project officer of the Werribee Waterways Management Committee, said the area represented one of the best examples of endangered basalt plains grassland in the state.
She said the 55 hectares planned to be set aside on three reserves was not enough.
“Most of the other grasslands in Victoria have been overgrazed and built on,” she said.
“It’s only by historical accident this remains because it was in the hands of the RAAF for so long.”
Victorian National Parks Association bio-diversity officer, Karen Alexander, said the Federal Government’s Environment Department was keeping its eye on the project with a “controlled action” order.
“There’s less than one per cent of the original extent of these grasslands left. We have to do everything to protect them.”
She said federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell had the authority to halt the project due to its outstanding environmental significance.
He used that power recently to stop a wind farm proposal in Gippsland because of minimal threats to a native parrot.
