By Ruza Zivkusic
THEpeople of Keilor are calling on Brimbank City Council to stop the area from losing its original character.
Locals have sent petitions to council stating the area needed a neighbourhood character overlay to stop expansion.
Resident Kevin Rowles said people last month expressed concern when they met during the campaign to save from demolition Keilor’s historic Christ Church .
Mr Rowles said they feared Keilor Village was taking on an inner city appearance such as that in Carlton, for example.
“What we’re seeing is wall to wall development, where developers want to develop every block to its maximum,” he said.
“We’re trying to get back the character that was here a few years back, with open spaces,” Mr Rowles explained.
He said more than 100 residents were expected over the next few days to send letters to the council. These would ask council officers to seek approval from the Department of Sustainability and Environment for an amendment to be made to the local planning scheme, to make certain that future development in Brimbank respects the character of the neighbourhood and local areas.
If approved, a planning permit would include amenity standards to all dwellings, such as to building height, set-backs, overlooking, overshadowing, access to daylight and to open space.
Georgeta Pop, another Keilor resident, said two years ago she went through a dispute with her neighbours.
She explained that they had unsuccessfully tried to expand by an extra level their double-storey house.
“It would have blocked the view for four neighbours, and overshadow their houses,” Ms Pop said.
“Keilor Village is unique because it sets itself apart from the rest of urban areas, because it features scenic views and hill aspects,” she said.
A Brimbank City Council spokesperson said the matter had not yet been “finalised” by the officers.
Councillor Kathryn Eriksson believed the proposal to preserve the character of Keilor was a good idea.
“I don’t want to see Keilor turn into having former single dwellings and then have them pulled down and end up with townhouses, because it would change the dynamics of the area,” Cr Eriksson said.
