By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council is calling on Planning Minister Richard Wynne to reject German-based grocery chain Kaufland’s plan to build a supermarket on High Street in Epping.
Kaufland plans to open six stores across Melbourne and has requested that Mr Wynne change the planning scheme provisions for the sites. An advisory committee has been set up to provide the minister with recommendations about the suitability of the proposed changes.
Kaufland wants to build a store on the former Bunnings site at 592-624 High Street. Development in this area of Epping is guided by the Epping Central Structure Plan which advocates for mixed use and high density developments.
The council is concerned Kaufland’s proposal is not in keeping with the structure plan. It will make a submission to the advisory committee voicing its opposition to the proposal in its current form.
Cr Sam Alessi said that if the committee approves the planning scheme provision changes for Epping, Mr Wynne should reject it.
“If this proposal goes through, it will cut off all the planning this council has done for Epping Central. It will fly in the face of pre-planning,” he said.
In a report to last week’s council meeting, council officers said they would ask the committee for a master plan to demonstrate how Kaufland’s proposal would accommodate the structure plan and integrate with surrounding developments.
The committee will hold public hearings this week before making its recommendations to Mr Wynne.
Kaufland is also proposing to open a store at 1550 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo. A date is yet to be set for the committee to begin accepting public submissions about this site.
