By Sarah Schwager
Picture: Stewart Chambers.
LYNBROOK residents are up in arms about a proposed application that could see townhouses built up around the new Lynbrook Shopping Centre.
In line with the State Government’s Melbourne 2030 plan, VicUrban is proposing to subdivide land left over around the shopping centre.
Lynbrook’s Paula Langille said residents were annoyed because when they moved into the area earlier this century, they were told houses would only be built on single-dwelling blocks.
She said there just weren’t the resources for these “super lots” – in some cases with seven townhouses to be built on two blocks – with limited space for parking and areas for children to play.
“It’s just ridiculous. They are very small blocks with no backyards to speak of. Where are the kids going to play?” Mrs Langille said.
“We don’t want to have a situation where the youth are hanging out in the shopping centre carpark.”
She said the narrow streets slowed the traffic but when cars were parked either side it was almost impossible to get through, with problems just last week of an ambulance trying to get through. Another Lynbrook resident Ian Staniforth said he was concerned that the plans had not been discussed with anyone.
“If this goes ahead it would be a case of a lot of population in a relatively small place,” he said.
“The townhouses are back to back with alleyways in between. The plan reminds me of England north country depression.”
Casey deputy mayor and Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford has held two meetings with residents in the last fortnight to discuss their concerns.
Cr Bradford said both he and residents would not be supporting VicUrban’s proposal to subdivide the area into townhouses.
“I could not support this amount of medium-density housing. There are hardly any car parks in the area. It is not in the character of the estate,” he said.
He said the original master plan for the area, including separate house blocks and the shopping centre, was being rethought because of land left over after the final design of the shopping centre.
Developers now want that spare land rezoned residential.
Cr Bradford said the application still had to be processed and approved before being brought back to council but stressed he could not support it.
Mr Staniforth said he was surprised the State Government’s development corporation would consider compacting the Lynbrook area after recent comments from VicUrban chief executive Pru Sanderson.
Ms Sanderson told an Urban Development Institute of Australia meeting that she was not confident the agency’s sustainability charter could be met by super lotting or joint ventures.
Under the Casey Planning Scheme, the land is zoned Residential 1 which aims “to encourage residential development that respects the neighbourhood character”.
Rob Vines, VicUrban’s urban and provincial communities general manager, said VicUrban has a proposal before Casey Council that seeks to develop separate parcels of land for integrated, smaller lot development.
“This proposal is in accordance with council’s adopted Lynbrook and Lyndhurst development plan to provide more diversity in housing and community services near the retail village,” Mr Vines said.
“The proposal is still before council for approval and with anything of this nature will certainly take into account community concerns.
“The community will have a further opportunity to comment via the planning process but can be assured that our design controls will deliver high quality residential development, complimenting the amenity of the area with things like sufficient parking and good design outcomes.”
