By VANESSA VALENZUELA
SYDENHAM residents have vowed to take their fight against a proposed multi-million dollar development on Trickey Avenue to the state’s planning tribunal.
Brimbank City Council’s decision to approve a three-story apartment building at 51 Trickey Ave came under the ire of residents when they discovered the plan for the five apartment development was approved by council in December 2010.
Residents were not notified of the plans because the proposal was exempt from advertising as the site resides within a comprehensive development zone.
Sydenham resident Sandra Maccora said she would make an application to VCAT to have the decision overturned.
She said residents were outraged that Brimbank City Council had not informed the community about the major development when it was first proposed two years ago.
“We were never given the opportunity to voice our opinion in the first run. It was all done underhandedly and no one ever knew about it,” Ms Maccora said.
“We are angry about this but basically they (council) are saying they are within the law. But regardless of what the law might say, we are ratepayers, we live here and we have the right to know.”
Council’s Acting General Manager of City Development Stuart Menzies told Star last month that the application was not advertised because it was consistent with council’s comprehensive development plan.
“This proposal did not go through a Council meeting because there were no objections received (given that it was exempt from advertising) and therefore officers had delegation to deal with the matter,” Mr Menzies said.
He said construction on the approved development could commence at any time, if the developer chose to go ahead with this proposal.
