By PETER DOUGLAS
YARRA Ranges Council has paved the way for an extensive amenities upgrade at the Convention Centre at Belgrave Heights.
In front of a packed gallery of objectors, councillors passed an original recommendation at the 22 March meeting, which will see an extension to the existing place of assembly, tree removal, and new accommodation facilities and car park.
The eight-hectare site has been used as a Christian Convention Centre for more than 50 years, with facilities including a 1650-seat auditorium, reception centre, kiosk, halls, kitchens, and numerous caravan and campsites.
Many groups from around Australia use the site annually for conferences, retreats and church camps.
Twenty-one residents submitted objections to the permit, with many citing issues around noise and fire safety.
At the council meeting, ward councillor Mike Clarke put forward an alternate recommendation, which would have seen the permit denied.
“I just feel that I cannot ignore the significant concern this community has for the development,” Cr Clarke said.
“I have met with the owners (of the Convention Centre) and their committee … they certainly appear to be doing the best they can.
“But the real issue here is the community and we can’t ignore the impact on their life.”
Despite the alternative recommendation winning some support from Cr Noel Cliff, Cr Jim Child and other councillors could not be swayed.
“I believe the community’s problem is all about compliance,” Cr Child said.
“But what we’re here to do is to make a decision in regards to the application.
“To me, this application does not increase the number of patrons, (or increase) the number parking … but gives a great outcome for that site.”
Cr Child also pointed to the initial report, which received no objections from either the Country Fire Authority (CFA), or Department of Environment Later Water and Planning (DELWP), over fire safety concerns.
During the meeting, objectors in the gallery, which included nearby residents, voiced their concerns as councillors deliberated over the recommendations.
Objectors argued events at the centre didn’t finish on time, with event-goers often partying late into the morning.
Another issue raised was how to manage potentially 300 to 400 cars on the site during a fire emergency, particularly on a school day or times with heavy traffic.
Previously, representatives from Yarra Ranges Shire and the centre met with about 20 objectors in November last year, a meeting which the media was not permitted to attend.
Nearby resident Nick van Amstel told the Mail his main fear was the increased potential for tragedy.
“In a bushfire situation, there could be 1000 people, in addition to the residents, seeking to flee the area,” he said.
“The guests are flown in from other parts of the country, they don’t know the area, they could easily become disorientated.”
Mr van Amstel also cited noise and tree removal as other concerns raised at the meeting.
“There are already trees being removed on permit, but there’s no buffer zone or revegetation taking place,” he said.
“When you consider there are people camping, there must be concerns for their safety.”
Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Geoff Gawler, defended the application, including concerns around bushfire awareness.
“We’re very aware of these issues, we mow regularly and take measures to prepare accordingly,” he said.
“We completely shut down all events on a code-red day.
“We can’t always remove guests on these days, but there are no events so there’s no incentive for them to stay.”
Mr Gawler said they were responsible citizens when it came to noise and the environment.
“We have an annual tree survey by an arborist, we go through council to receive permits and remove trees when required,” he said.
“People often come from the city to relax in the bush environment, we don’t want to turn it into another suburb.”
Mr Gawler said they imposed stricter noise restrictions than required.
“We shut down all music at 10.30pm,” he said.
“Where the new work is being proposed will create greater insulation from where the music is played.”
Mr Gawler said the centre wanted to meet increased demand for accommodation.
