By Stephen Linnell
THE controversial 2000 home Riverwalk development is set to proceed after a divided Wyndham Council last week acceded to a State Government request to prepare a planning amendment.
The decision comes despite strong resident opposition to the plan, which will open up the former Melbourne Water land – which is currently the site of the B24 bomber – to more than 6000 new residents.
The council had been asked by Planning Minister Justin Madden to pass a planning amendment – known as C96 – in order for the State Government-run VicUrban to develop the 197-hectare site.
But former mayor Councillor Shane Bourke led opposition to the amendment, citing a lack of infrastructure and roads planning.
“I just don’t feel comfortable with it,” Cr Bourke said. “I’ve got grave concerns that we won’t get what we need for residents. Once it’s there, it’s too late. I’m not seeing a lot of (State Government) help. I think it’s fraught with danger. What guarantees do we have? We don’t have any.”
Councillor Mark Rose also voted against the recommendation.
“It’s going to clog it up. The community says no to the development until Werribee St/Cottrell St is sorted out,” he said.
But the two councillors were out-voted, with councillors Henry Barlow, Heather Marcus, Peter Ross, Bob Fairclough and Leigh Barrett in favour of passing the amendment.
“There is a time-delay built into it. New housing will come in two to three years,” Cr Fairclough said.
Cr Barlow argued that even if the council rejected the amendment, the Minister had the power to proceed with the development and would do so without council involvement.
“My biggest concern is that we’re very much in danger of losing our planning responsibility,” he said.
“In effect (by voting against the motion) you are taking away a position of further negotiation, which puts you in a weakened state. I prefer to retreat from the field of battle so I can fight another day, rather than losing all my soldiers in one day.”
Cr Ross said: “I think our hands are tied. I will reluctantly support this.”
Mayor Kim McAliney, who did not have to vote, later told Star: “You (State Government) have now told us that you are committed to giving money to growth councils, now we’re waiting for action. You put more houses there but there’s only one access. We want action now. In a recent meeting with the Planning Minister, Wyndham’s chief executive officer and I highlighted the significant traffic issues associated with this development.
“The Minister advised that he was aware of the problems and was confident that the required infrastructure would be in place in appropriate time frames.
“Wyndham Council was directed by the Planning Minister to progress Amendment C96. Council has drawn the Minister’s attention to the significant works required to provide motorists with alternatives to the Werribee St/Cottrell St intersection.
“In making this direction to council, the Minister now has an obligation to ensure that adequate access is provided to the proposed residential development.
“Council has made it clear to the State Government that traffic issues must be addressed before further growth is approved.”
The council had previously deferred a decision until after VicRoads’ release of the final report into the Werribee St/Cottrell St bottleneck.
The intersection is the only entry point into Werribee for residents in Westleigh Gardens.
The council first considered and postponed an application for the amendment in March 2007.
