Overlay may scupper store

By Tania Martin
MT EVELYN’S progress association hopes the approval of a design and development overlay will help fight-off an appeal for a Safeway supermarket.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges last week endorsed the introduction of the overlay at a meeting on Tuesday night and agreed to send it to the planning minister for approval.
The overlay aims to protect the Mt Evelyn township from inappropriate developments in the future.
Mt Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA), president Clare Worsnop said she was glad to finally see the overlay being endorsed.
But Ms Worsnop fears that it has come too late for the future of the town.
She said the developer of a proposed Safeway supermarket which the council rejected in May has now lodged an appeal with VCAT.
Ms Worsnop urged the council to endorse the overlay as quickly as possible so that it could be put on the town’s planning scheme before the impending VCAT hearing in a couple of months.
The fight to protect Mt Evelyn started in 2003 when land on the corner of Snowball Avenue and Station Street was rezoned from residential to business so that a pharmacy, doctor’s surgery and a car park could be developed.
Mt Evelyn residents initially withdrew their objections to the rezoning to make way for the doctor’s surgery.
But speculation that a supermarket would be built instead of a doctor’s surgery led residents to campaign for the land to be returned to its original zoning.
In response to these concerns, the council agreed to develop a protective overlay for the area in September 2005.
However, the introduction of the plan was delayed in December last year when the council sent it to be assessed by an independent panel after receiving 103 objections and 183 letters of support.
Objectors said the overlay would restrict future commercial and retail developments and that it would increase the fragmentation of the town centre.
Supporters said it would protect the town from inappropriate developments.
Now two years later residents have welcomed the council’s move to endorse the overlay and protect the future of the town.
The council will now send the overlay plans to the minister for planning for final approval.