By Mikayla van Loon
A major retirement and aged care facility has been approved for Chirnside Park at the centre of the activity hub even though traffic and density concerns were raised by residents.
Yarra Ranges councillors unanimously approved the planning permit for the multi-level care development at 266-268 Maroondah Highway on Tuesday 27 September.
The land, which has access from Maroondah Highway via East Ridge Drive, Fletcher Road and Manchester Road, will become a Summerset Group Holdings retirement village, filling the 9.283 hectares L-shaped block.
The staged development will see roadways, independent living units, an aged care facility and residential units built behind the already existing Dan Murphy’s and progressing Maroondah Highway retail precinct catering for hundreds of people.
Planning consultant and director of Urbis, on behalf of Summerset, Phil Gleeson said the vision for the village was to remain part of the community.
“Summerset seeks a development that is of high quality and one that supports the community…[and] has sought to strike a balance between density and mass while minimising offsite amenity impacts,” he said.
Sitting within a residential growth zone, a permit was required to use the land for the desired purpose.
Mr Gleeson said the zoning “supports a diversity of housing and density” which has been presented in the various building heights and structures of living.
A resident of Hedwig Drive, Maxwell, spoke against the proposal, suggesting residents had not been properly informed by the council of the extent of the project.
According to the council’s meeting agenda, 360 letters were dropped to houses in the nearby area but Maxwell said some residents missed out, forcing neighbours to share the information themselves.
“No resident living on the southern section of Hedwig Drive down from Erskine Ridge received such notification,” he said.
“Given the recent changes to the connectivity of Hedwig Drive to Maroondah Highway as directed by council, this lack of notification was not viewed favourably.”
The issue of access to Hedwig Drive from within the retirement village was raised throughout the council meeting, with consulted residents having shared their concerns on 23 June.
Maxwell said he welcomed the opportunity to be heard by a town planning officer, a Summerset representative and councillors Richard Higgins and Jim Child but communication with residents after this meeting was minimal.
Access to Hedwig Drive was, however, addressed in the agenda notes, stating “the applicant has proposed that no vehicle access be provided from Hedwig Drive to the south, with only bike and pedestrian access provided.
“The layout would allow for future two-way vehicle access to be installed by Council if deemed to be required, subject to further traffic assessment and community consultation.”
Another resident of over 40 years, Tony, also raised concerns about the high density living arrangements.
“Just because a zoning has been changed to accommodate high density works, it doesn’t mean that’s the correct thing and it should be adopted,” he said.
Tony also addressed the community impact during the build for residents in surrounding neighbourhoods and the long term viability of such a build.
“I just appeal to those that are to make the decision on the acceptance of this planning permit to think wisely and to think of now but to think of a long way into the future because this is something that we’ll be living with,” he said.
“With the amount of soil that is going to be gouged out of this place I urge you to think of the impact on people and the suitability of this type of development in this neighbourhood is something that needs to be carefully considered.”
Cr Higgins noted the importance of getting this decision right for Chirnside Park and the future of the suburb.
As someone who grew up in the Chirnside Park area, Cr Higgins said as much as it was lovely to see cows grazing at the site years ago and have a large open space, this type of development was needed.
“I’ve been in the area for a long time too and I understand what that area has gone through,” he said.
“It’s huge change and it’s happening very, very rapidly. The nursing home and retirement village factor of it is something that we need, it is something that is ideal in my view.”
With the bus accessibility, shopping centre and retail precincts within close proximity, Cr Higgins said it was located in a great spot for elderly and retired residents.
Chirnside Park doesn’t have any nursing homes or retirement villages within its boundaries, with local residents having to travel to Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Montrose, Kilsyth and Croydon.
