Melbourne’s green wedge zone is being threatened by the proposed development of Whittlesea’s Mornmoot Stud, according to a planning expert.
The owners of the 124-hectare thoroughbred stud in Wildwood Road have offered to transfer part of the land, including a historic homestead and library, to the Whittlesea council and help fund ongoing maintenance by selling more land for a proposed 80-lot development.
Robert and Roshni Thompson say the homestead and grounds could be used as a function centre and the western part of the property, including a lake, could be parkland. The total land for transfer is 43 hectares.
The Thompsons say a fund for the land’s upkeep will come from the sale of the rest of the land, which they propose as a low-density equine-based subdivision with lots from 0.5 hectares to 1.2 hectares.
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The property was auctioned in 2012 with an asking price of more than $7 million. But it was passed in. It has been placed within the green wedge zone, which requires minimum lot sizes of 40 hectares.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors acknowledged the cultural and heritage significance of the property but resolved not to make a decision on the Thompsons’ proposal before seeking more information.
Mr Thompson said the proposal was about preserving the library and homestead.
“I want to raise funds for the library. If we don’t do something about it it’s going to disappear,” he said.
Cr Adrian Spinelli spoke about the site’s potential but said he was concerned it could become a community liability.
“By engaging in an agreement with the current owners, what is council taking on? “ he asked.“We don’t have the figures and the potential liability and cost to the community.”
Professor of Environment and Planning at RMIT University, Michael Buxton, said if the council went ahead with the transfer it would be a betrayal of long-term strategic planning.
“[The land] is a critical part of the green wedge zone and its loss would be a blow to the concept of the green wedge,” he said.
Wildwood Road resident Geoff Baker said he’d be surprised if the proposal got off the ground. “The whole proposal is on the basis that he [Mr Thompson] can get the land rezoned,” he said.
