Second chance to object

– Tania Martin
AN URGENT public meeting has been called after minor changes were made to plans for a controversial development in Emerald.
The people of Emerald are now being urged to attend a public meeting on Saturday, 16 June at 11am to see the new plans and make further objections.
In April an appeal to VCAT by the developers of 386 Belgrave-Gembrook Road was halted after an interim vegetation protection was placed over the land.
The case was deferred so that the developer could have time to look at how the overlay would affect his proposal.
The proposed development was for a four-storey complex which would house offices, a medical centre and licensed food and drink premises and serviced apartments.
The developer has now released new plans which Wendy Lydall of Emerald says only have very minor changes.
“It is still a four-storey building. They (developers) have just put a kink in one corner of the building so that two trees can be saved,” she said.
“The other changes are very insignificant.”
For the past nine months residents have rallied to oppose the development and have vowed to continue to fight against the proposal.
One of the main concerns raised by residents is the lack of parking in the area, which has been reduced in the new plans.
Ms Lydall said if VCAT approves the application for the four-storey building, traffic problems in the area would become unbearable.
Residents living in the adjacent Violet Evelyn Gardens Retirement Village fear they will lose their privacy if the application is approved. They say the development will overshadow their units.
Helen Anastasios has an elderly aunt living at the retirement village who is frightened by the proposed development.
“She won’t even leave her house.
“She is really concerned about it and each time I visit her she says it’s all that is on her mind,” she said.
Ms Lydall she said although the new plans haven’t change much from the original proposal it was good news for residents.
“Anyone who hasn’t objected to the development now has the chance because the plans have changed,” she said.
Ms Lydall said there would be objection forms available for people to sign at the meeting which will be held at the Emerald Mechanic Hall.