Woodland Waters residents have lost for a second time their bid to scale back a planned housing development on Cravens Road in Mernda.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld Whittlesea council’s decision to allow an area of two hectares at 120 Cravens Road to be subdivided into 47 blocks.
Despite 272 residents’ objections, the council ruled last May to allow the developer to subdivide two hectares of the 11.8-hectare block and build mostly medium-density housing.
Under the proposal, the remaining 9.8 hectares of the land is to be transferred to the council to form part of the Quarry Hills Regional Park.
The objectors, who form the Save Mernda Hill Action Group, appealed against the council’s decision at VCAT last year.
The outcome of VCAT’s hearing last month was a “disappointment” to the community group.
One of its members, Cassandra Smith, who lives six doors away from Cravens Road, said she was “utterly disappointed”.
“The number of houses they have allowed will create traffic congestion and an unsightly view from the estate,” she said.
“Instead of a nice hill with a couple of cows, from my front door I’ll see a massive development.”
In his written decision, VCAT member Frank Dawson said that while he accepted that the proposed subdivision might result in changes such as a loss of rural outlook towards Mernda Hill from within the Woodland Waters development, these changes, among others, were in accordance with the relevant planning policies.
“It will also result in clear benefits to existing and future communities within the broader region, resulting from the securing of the Quarry Hills Regional Park and upgrades to Cravens Road,” Mr Dawson wrote.
“This includes residents of Cravens Road and the Woodland Waters estate, who will enjoy convenient access to a major bushland reserve.”
