By Corey Everitt
Cardinia Shire Council is primed to consider granting a permit to a proposed four-storey medical centre in Emerald.
In the council’s next Town Planning Meeting on Monday evening 4 September, council offices will be moving a motion allowing the lot on 337 Belgrave-Gembrook Road to be used as the site for the medical centre.
The site, which is currently a single-level dwelling, is proposed to hold a maximum of 13 different medical specialists arranged in three separate suites located on separate floors.
Mandala Clinic, a health service just down the road at 360 Belgrave-Gembrook Road appears to be the applicant as they are the client of the proposal’s architect Hamilton Designs.
The overall complex will be four levels, from Belgrave-Gembrook Road it will appear as two, the two lower levels constructed more to the rear accommodating for the slope toward Madigan Way.
The two lower levels will be mostly comprised of the 42 parking spaces that will be accessible from Madigan way.
Specialist space will be provided entirely on both upper levels, while a partial section of basement level 1 will have space for service.
Entrance from belgrave-Gembrook Road will be pedestrian-only, while vehicle entrance and parking will be accessible only from Madigan Way behind the property.
The council has provided their own general and specific amendments to the plan, including a condition to upgrade Madigan Way from Ferres Road to the eastern boundary of the lot.
As Madigan Way will be its sole entry for vehicles, the council requires the road to be upgraded the full length of the lot’s rear boundary.
Other amendments include adding 4 bicycle spaces, adding a change room and a clearance of a single parking bay for better pedestrian access.
Public notice was given since March this year, with the council receiving 12 objections to the proposal.
Key issues were raised in the objections including the overlooking of the multi-storey building, impact to road traffic, inconstancy to the visual streetscape and inconsistency with existing zoning and planning policy.
The council addressed these issues saying the proposal fit within mixed-use zoning, was consistent with existing visuals of the street and issues were addressed with potential overlooking towards its neighbors.
If passed, the council will determine the centre’s opening hours from 8.30am to 7pm on weekdays, 8.30am to 2pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
The council would also determine that no more than 13 specialist can be located at the sight at any one time.
The motion will be considered at the Town Planning Meeting of the council on Monday 4 September at 7pm.
