Questions remain after an Altona developer selling apartments off the plan lost his appeal for an extension of time to start building.
George Gabriel appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an eighth extension of time to start building seven dwellings and a coffee shop at 114 Civic Parade.
The tribunal heard Mr Gabriel was first issued a planning permit in 2007 and had already received seven extensions.
VCAT member Megan Carew said the council refused Mr Gabriel’s latest request because it believed there was “evidence of warehousing over the past 10 years”.
Mr Gabriel informed the tribunal he had appointed real estate agents for pre-sale in January 2017 with the pre-sale of unit 1 in May 2017.
Ms Carew said there was a question of whether the proposal was at a point where it was “ready to go”.
“I am not persuaded on the material and evidence before me that the applicant is ready to commence construction within the one year extension.”
The council said if a fresh planning application for the development was made today, it would be prohibited because of changes to the planning scheme made in March 2017.
Mr Gabriel did not return Star Weekly’s request for comment as to the future of his development.
