By Rowan Forster
The Cardinia Ratepayers Association (CRA) has lauded an eleventh-hour decree to halt the lease of 6, 8 and 10 Main Street, Pakenham for transitional housing.
When council approved a planning permit for the 10-house “squeezey” development in August, the decision garnered little-to-no backlash.
However, community uproar has now engulfed the proposal – with more than 120 people signing a petition to demand for a planning permit reversal.
Head of the CRA Gloria O’Connor has accused the council of failing to adequately advertise the application, allowing it to slip through the cracks with only slight objection.
“The proposed changed were not known to the general community other than several close residents,” she said.
“The requisite signage was no longer visible on the site after three days there and the local newspaper cannot be regarded as notification to all the residents when it is buried in the classifieds section.
“There are more than 100 people who are very opposed to this development and the impact it will have in the centre of town, especially with the historical museum backing onto the property.”
Cardinia Shire was minutes from signing off on a 50 year lease with WAYSS Limited on Monday night when Councillor Brett Owen intervened.
Mrs O’Connor said it was an “extremely wise” move, providing the resurgence of opposition.
In a razor-thin 5-4 vote, Cr Brett Owen successfully had the impending decision deferred until at least October.
Cr Owen fired shots at council officers for failing to provide detailed financial information about the lease, despite him requesting it prior to the meeting.
“There is a page and a half report for us, and as councillors, we’re making a 50-year decision on a page and a half,” he said.
“Last week at a council briefing I requested further information in relation to the financial impacts of this decision.
I legitimately asked for that information and that information did not come – I think that’s unacceptable.”
He adamantly declared his support for community housing initiatives, but said his decision was a matter of being financially responsible.
Tensions flared between the elected representatives in wake of the alternate motion.
Councillors Michael Schilling and Leticia Wilmot launched scathing attacks against the Deputy Mayor’s comments.
“I feel this is a little bit of a game of economic cat and mouse with the lives of vulnerable people,” Cr Schilling said.
“I won’t be sitting back, delaying vital infrastructure when we have vulnerable members of the community in need.”
“I don’t for the life of me understand why these issues are coming up when you’ve had 12 months to raise these concerns,” Cr Wilmot added, declaring the matter a “no-brainer”.
Brett Owen subsequently fired back: “I don’t want any councillor to indicate that I do not support this type of housing.”
In wake of the close verdict, a division was called within the chambers.
Councillors Graeme Moore, Collin Ross, Carol Ryan and Ray Brown hurled their support behind Brett Owen’s motion while Michael Schilling, Jeff Springfield, Jodie Owen and Leticia Wilmot were opposed to it.
When asked about concerns with the 6-10 Main Street public consultation process, Cardinia Shire CEO Garry McQuillan replied: “The statutory advertising in this application was undertaken and four rejections were received.”
According to the council, any further objectors would need to seek advice from the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal.
Councillors are expected to deliberate on the lease again in the coming months.
