Opposition on the rise

By Tania Martin
EMERALD residents have been urged to put their objections over a three-storey development in writing.
This comes after more than 120 people gathered at the town hall last week to object to the proposed development.
David Greenaway from Emerald said it was now important that people follow through their objections with a written submission to the council outlining their concerns.
The proposed development is for a three-story complex at 386 Belgrave-Gembrook Road which will house offices, a medical centre, licensed food and drink premises and serviced apartment.
Ranges Ward councillor Ed Chatwin said that people at the meeting raised concerns over a lack of car parking and that the development would over shadow the adjacent elderly people’s accommodation.
He said residents were also concerned that a liquor licence would result in an increase in the unruly behaviour and considerable noise that already takes place in the town on some evenings.
Mr Greenaway said although there was a petition objecting to the development being circulated around the town, it was still important for residence to make individual submissions.
He said a petition is only equal to one submission even if hundreds of people sign it.
“We need to make sure individual objections are made because the council needs more than five objections before the council can consider refusing the application,” he said.
Nearby resident and Liberal candidate for Gembrook Simon Wildes said there was a genuine public outcry at the meeting against the development.
However, Mr Wildes said it was important for residents to remember that the council will review and vote on the project based on how it measures up against the State Government’s urban development framework laws and the number of objections it receives.
Mr Greenaway said it was now up to the townspeople to start a campaign to have the proposed development rejected.
His view was echoed by Emerald resident Penny Lane who said that it was ‘absolutely critical’ for residents to submit their concerns over the development to the council.
“It is now or never for people to stand up and tell the council and the developer that the proposal is not wanted,” she said.
Ms Lane said she has two main concerns, the first was that the development would overshadow and destroy the retirement village, and secondly, she said cutting down vegetation and several old trees was a major concern for the local environment.
“It makes my heart bleed at the thought of them (the developers) cutting down those magnificent trees,” she said.