DEBATE surrounding a proposed Kilmore development laid bare a division between Mitchell Shire councillors last week, with Cr David Lowe claiming council was in an ‘unfortunate position’ and Cr Louise Bannister saying she was ‘disappointed’ in Cr Lowe’s stance.
Council initially approved a permit for the six-dwelling subdivision at 33 George Street during its February meeting, in line with a recommendation from council officers.
However, a majority of councillors voted to rescind the permit only a month later after it was discovered some were unaware of the property’s location within Kilmore’s equine precinct, as laid out in the Kilmore Structure Plan.
The application came before council again last week, with a majority of councillors this time voting to reject it.
Cr Bannister said council had a duty to protect land within the equine precinct and Kilmore from overdevelopment.
“Kilmore is not an inner-city suburb, it’s a country town, and if developments like this continue, we’ll lose the town’s character,” she said.
“If we allow a whole lot of units to be developed on this equine precinct, pretty soon there won’t be an equine precinct.”
Cr Lowe opposed Cr Bannister’s motion to refuse the permit, saying developers were building smaller properties because of market demand and the George Street developer was likely to win any challenge of council’s decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT.
“Almost everyone who spoke … at the first meeting where we discussed this recognised it is likely that VCAT will approve this, because this is the sort of development that the government is pushing for,” Cr Lowe said.
“There is no instruction that all of the properties within an equine precinct need to be involved in equine activity and there’s plenty of evidence that the other areas we have dedicated in such a way are not exclusively for, for instance, education or health.
“The reason people want to develop smaller blocks with smaller properties is because of the market for those properties. Builders are not doing it just for the hell of it; they’re doing it because people want to buy smaller properties on smaller blocks.”
Cr Bannister hit back at Cr Lowe, arguing builders were creating small developments because it was cost-effective rather than the best outcome for home buyers.
“Many people are not buying small properties because that’s what they’re after, it’s because that’s what they’re forced to buy,” she said.
“More and more tiny developments are cropping up in … towns like Kilmore, causing them to lose their character and limiting the options of people who used to move out to these types of towns to access properties where they could start a family.
“Most of the inhabitants will be commuters travelling over an hour to Melbourne to return home to a place with no garden, no tree canopy and no other benefits that country living offers.”
Cr Annie Goble, attending her first council meeting in a year after an extended leave of absence, said the development would require more cars to park on George Street, putting potential residents at odds with nearby horse owners.
“If you park a car on both sides of George Street, you could barely get a car, let alone a horse and sulky or a large horse transport, between them. From a parking perspective, it’s not safe,” she said.
But Cr Lowe and Cr Bob Cornish argued it was inevitable that VCAT would overturn the decision, costing council money.
“We are talking about neighbourhood character and of course we have not done a neighbourhood character study. Therefore I suspect all we’ll get is an overturn of the decision and criticism from VCAT,” Cr Lowe said.
“I think this is a very unfortunate position to be in and I lament that we have put ourselves in that position.”
Cr Bannister criticised Cr Lowe’s stance.
“We seem to be able to support some areas to want to preserve their character and … we put money into making sure they stay the way that they are … and yet when it comes to this area, it’s okay,” she said.
“I think the community would be disappointed in that. We hear all the time that one of the biggest things our community wants us to do as a council is to keep the country feel of our towns.
“It’s a bit disappointing that you’re willing to fight for some areas and not for others. I’m happy to fight for all areas.”
George Street would be extremely difficult to drive along between parked cars – particularly if Cr Goble was the driver.