By ANEEKA SIMONIS
BEACONSFIELD residents fighting against plans to build almost 200 houses on their doorstep have been backed by Gembrook MP Brad Battin who believes the council proposal is inappropriate.
The rural Glismann Road area, which currently has 22 lots of up to 1.2 hectrates, may be redeveloped to house close to 200 lots as part of council’s Beaconsfield Structure Plan initated in June 2013.
“Local residents have told me they don’t want this development and believe it’s inappropriate for the area,” said Mr Battin who met with a group of residents campaigning against the redevelopment earlier this week.
Council’s Beaconsfield Structure Plan suggests the low density cul-de-sac area will experience the greatest amount of change as part of the redevelopment.
“Glismann Road remains the largest single tract of land where infill residential development can occur.
“It is clear that this precinct will probably see the greatest change of all precincts,” the plan read alongside suggestions that the State Government had flagged the area as a “priority” for urban development.
Andrew Peart lives in a Glismann Road home which has been part of his family for 50 years and said the plan would diminish his, his family’s and neighbour’s quality of life.
“Glismann Road is the jewel in the crown of Beaconsfield,” he said.
“We are not compelled to develop, but instead of having one neighbour either side we may have up to five or six. We will lose our tranquillity.
“It seems council’s main reason for developing the area is because it’s a great parcel of land, close to schools, the railway, and great for other people moving into area but there is no consideration to residents who live here now.
“A major concern is what happens to the rates we pay. It’s likely we will see extra costs to rates with no benefit – in fact, it’ll be a huge disadvantage to ourselves.”
Yet Cardinia Shire Council said current residents would not have to pay any additional costs unless they took to subdividing their own property.
The council’s Strategic Planning Team Leader Steven Hines said the redevelopment of the area, which is within the metropolitan Urban Growth Boundary, will also include new open spaces and access points.
“The development plan for the Glismann Road area will protect the ridge area of Glismann Road, create new open spaces, create a connection to Timbertop Drive using Patrick Place and establish a new road network to support further subdivision,” he said.
While some residents wish to retain the rural landscape and lifestyle of the sparsely populated area, others are in support of the subdivision, the council said.
Residents can submit their ideas about the proposed redevelopment through the council’s public consultation process before Monday 2 February.
