Tara Murray
An independent planning panel will be set up to consider all submissions made about the development of an old Bundoora quarry site.
Whittlesea council at its February 20 meeting agreed to ask the planning minister to set up the panel after the public exhibition of the planning scheme amendment..
The council wants to rezone the land at 149 McKimmies Road from industrial to residential as part of the amendment.
Developer Intrapac Property has bought the site and intends to use the land for medium density housing.
The council resolved at its September 2022 meeting to seek authorisation from the planning minister to prepare and exhibit an amendment to the Whittlesea planning scheme, with authorisation granted in July.
If approved, the 36.4 hectare site could be transformed by up to 730 new homes.
The council received nine submissions during the exhibition period, while 13 community members attended a community information session.
Issues raised by the submissions include the extent of waterway reserve along Darebin Creek, ensuring compliance with implementation of statement of environmental audit as part of the next stages of development, traffic and site access issues to McKimmies Road, acoustic and air quality issues, and interface treatments of the proposed residential neighbourhood to the neighbouring bus depot.
Dyson Group, which has a bus depot, directly adjoining the development site, submitted an objection to the proposed amendment, which was partly supported by council officers.
One of its concerns centred around ensuring access to the bus depot remained at the same quality.
Administrator Christian Zahra said a mountain of work had been done on this important and significant site.
“Next steps are important here they are the next phase now of completing these works,” he said.
“Hopefully second and final phase to this point which i think we will see a significant outcome at the end of the process in the public interest.”
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson pointed out that as part of the recommendation that council officers will continue discussions to seek resolution of unresolved submissions prior to the panel hearing.
