Council teed off

By Melissa Meehan
Planning Minister Justin Madden has ignored Cardinia Shire Council’s requests to back their support for the Beaconhills Golf Club redevelopment after VCAT rejected the application. 41143

PLANNING Minister Justin Madden has refused a request from the Cardinia Shire Council to step in over the Beaconhills Golf Club redevelopment.
In July, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal disallowed a residential development application by the Beaconhills Country Golf Club on both planning and environmental grounds.
Following VCAT’s decision, the Cardinia Shire Council wrote to Mr Madden, requesting that he help them achieve their development goal despite previously stating his intervention in the matter was not appropriate.
In September, the department sent a letter to the council, advising that the subdivision of the land was not a matter for the minister.
The Development Facilitation Unit, on behalf of the minister, encouraged the council to prepare a planning scheme amendment that addressed existing policy issues and land use constraints identified by VCAT.
Cardinia Council general manager of planning and development, Phil Walton said the council supported applications by the golf club to subdivide its land into nine lots.
He said a balance lot of 106.2 hectares, which would contain the clubhouse and golf course, would be prevented from further subdivision by a restriction placed on the title.
“The number of lots proposed in the subdivision is no greater than the number of lots that can be created under the current zone applying to the land and the size of the lots proposed in McArthur Road are no greater than the existing lots proposed in McArthur Road,” he said.
“Council recognises the Beaconhills Golf Course and Club as a significant local and regional recreational facility, and has sought to assist the club to ensure its long-term future in the Upper Beaconsfield community.”
Mayor Graeme Legge said the council was supportive of the golf club and would like to see it survive as a viable recreational facility.
“Council’s actions and advice have been in pursuit of that end. Council’s decisions are never taken lightly rather, they take due regard to the benefit of the whole municipality. There has been no variation from this principle in this situation,” he said.