Local woman Melissa Frost is fighting against a proposed industrial precinct that she believes will irrevocably harm Skeleton Creek and the liveability of Point Cook, Seabrook and Altona Meadows.
On 2 August, 2024 Wyndham council received a planning application to subdivide land located at 5 Firth Place, Point Cook, into 19 lots that would eventually house an industrial precinct through which the creek would flow.
Wyndham council and the developer, the Schiavello Group, had several meetings about whether council had the ability to grant a permit due to the site boarding Hobsons Bay council residential areas and the environmental maintenance that would be required.
The developer later submitted an application to have the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hear the case because Wyndham council took too long to make a decision on a permit.
At a planning meeting in September, Wyndham council supported more than 100 resident objections and unanimously voted against an officer’s recommended VCAT stance of agreeing to grant a permit to the developer.
Ms Frost lives less than 300 metres from the earmarked zone and will attend the first compulsory VCAT conference on 17 October to submit her formal opposition to the proposed development.
She said industrialising the location would ruin the area and turn it into a “depressing, disgusting concrete jungle.”
“It is a completely inappropriate location. There will be pollution, noise pollution, the destruction of vegetation and the loss of wildlife that goes with it,” Ms Frost said.
“It will start there, but the entire creek and its ecosystem will be impacted by the inevitable run offs.
“The ecosystem would be damaged forever. Generations to come will rue the loss of this.
“There are so many walking groups, cyclists, Scout groups, parents and children just enjoying nature. This would destroy their right to enjoy such a beautiful environment.”
She said her opposition to industrialising the space was not tied to her wallet.
“This has nothing to do with the value of our homes, it is about the value of our lives,” she said.
“The reason I bought this house was because I thought it would never be industrialised and this view would last forever.
“Even though you can hear a little traffic in the background, the predominant sounds you can hear when sitting on my deck or living room are the bird and the trees and it brings you a sense of peace.
“I always thought it would be my little slice of paradise while living in the city.”
Ms Frost said she was baffled that Melbourne Water, which acts as the regional drainage and floodplain authority, supported the proposal.
“How Melbourne Water can put their stamp of approval on this is beyond me.”
Melbourne Water executive general manager Chris Brace confirmed that, subject to conditions, Melbourne water has consented to the proposed subdivision.
“The location of the development does not make sense because there is no way to directly access it from Palmers Road,” Ms Firth said.
“You would have to go through residential streets to get to the proposed development. The address itself, 5 Firth Place, is just the end of a quiet, residential court with houses on it.
“Anyone who supports the idea of this proposal ought to just come and take a look at the location for themselves– pretty soon they would see that there is no logic to it.
“I urge anyone living nearby to speak up against this, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
Hobsons Bay council and The Schiavello Group were contacted for comment.
