Bad feeling over wellness centre

By Tania Martin
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges councillor Graham Warren has slammed the developer of a proposed spa retreat for not listening to residents’ concerns.
This comes after the developer lodged an appeal with VCAT before the council could make a decision on the proposal.
However, the council last Tuesday night said it would notify VCAT that the proposal would have been refused had an appeal not been lodged.
Cr Warren said he was disgusted that the developer had made no effort to address residents’ concerns but instead went straight to VCAT.
He said although the developer called a public meeting to discuss the residents’ concerns, the developer never had any intentions of listening to them.
“They sat and listened to the residents’ concerns and then stood up at the end and said they would be taking the matter to VCAT,” Cr Warren said.
“The developer is well within their rights to make that decision but I felt they didn’t treat the residents concerns seriously.”
The proposed development is for a spa retreat, at 14 Mountain Crescent, Montrose, which would include the use of the existing Japanese retreat, plus the establishment of a spa and wellness centre.
The development would include a reception area, spa room with pool area, two wet massage rooms with spa and steam rooms, a relaxation room, staff amenities, toilets and a multi-purpose yoga and refreshment area.
However, the council last week raised concerns over the proposal not fitting into its planning scheme, as it was located in a green wedge zone.
Under the green wedge zone, retail premises, except markets and plant nurseries, are prohibited.
Objector and Montrose resident Michelle Gallant said the application wasn’t consistent with the green wedge zone as she believed it to be a retail business.
Ms Gallant said that the retreat was similar to that of a beauty parlour and should be considered retail.
However, the developer’s solicitor Craig Porter said the business should be considered a tourism operation which is allowed under the green wedge legislation and denied that the retreat was a retail business.
Instead he compared the retreat to a medical centre or a school rather than a retail service, which are also allowed in green wedges.
“It’s a wellness centre and similar to a doctor’s surgery and offers a service and is not considered retail and therefore should be approved under the green wedge legislation,” he said.
However, the council was not satisfied that the proposed development met the green wedge planning regulations.
The council will now advise VCAT that it was opposed to the application.