Residents claim subdivision not in character of Waterloo Rd

An eight-lot residential subdivision between Waterloo and Contour Rds in Trafalgar has been approved by Baw Baw Shire despite resistance from neighbours.

Council has approved an application that includes an eight lot subdivision of land at 24-26 Waterloo Rd. The 6569 square metre lot runs from Waterloo Rd to Contour Rd with access to the subdivided lots via a common driveway on Waterloo Rd.

An existing house will be separated into two side by side houses with two carports between the houses.

There were 19 objections to the proposal relating to flooding, drainage, traffic and noise. Objectors also claimed the high density development was out of character with the area.

Neighbouring property owners Bronwyn and Nicholas Baker told council they shared a 90 metre boundary with the subject site.

“We love the rural community feel this part of Trafalgar has to offer. This is something our community needs to treasure,” she said.

The Bakers said they ran a sustainable property and were an outdoors family but the development would face into their property with a common driveway running along their boundary.

Ms Baker said development along Contour Rd should not occur because of the flood overlay.

“When the Contour Drain rises at the moment it floods into 30 metres of our property

“There are currently unprecedented flood events around Australia. We understand towns need to grow but this development is out of character with the town,” she said.

The applicant, Matthew Bayer, said before and after purchasing the property he spent time with council to ensure any application they put forward would meet council’s vision for the area.

He said they had worked closely with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to assess drainage options to ensure the development would not impact neighbours.

“It was a long process and it determined there would be no impact to our neighbours and could potentially improve the situation.

“It is in a housing growth zone and utilises existing infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Bayer said he would be happy to include a fence along the driveway boundary to a height that satisfied council to minimise the impact on neighbours.

Recommending the proposal be approved, planning officers said the application was consistent with planning guidelines and would not “unreasonably impact upon neighbourhood character or the amenity of existing residents.”

Cr Darren Wallace said one of the concerns of objectors related to drainage but the applicant had submitted a flood impact assessment report that was referred to the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

He said the WGCMA was satisfied drainage concerns would be covered in permit conditions.

Cr Wallace said other conditions included on the permit, he was satisfied the applicant would work with neighbours to satisfy their amenity issues.

“This is a general residential zone in the town boundary. Yes it has a potential drainage issue but it has been addressed in WGCMA conditions,” he said.

Cr Joe Gauci said a lot of people had concerns about drainage, overflows and outfall.

But, he said, it was a residential block and has the capacity to cater for extra dwellings.

Cr Danny Goss said he understood the neighbours’ concerns but the application met planning scheme requirements. ”If you have a 6000 square metre lot next to you, you know someone one day will develop it.

“If this went to VCAT they would tick it off. It went to the WGCMA and they said yes so we don’t have the luxury to say the CMA is wrong - they are the experts and they can say no (to an application).

Cr Annemarie McCabe spoke against the proposal, saying “just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it.”

She said flooding was a serious concern in this application and she was not convinced it should be approved. “This is not a great development.”