Jennifer Pittorino
Despite months of community opposition, planning approval has been given for the Footscray Clinical Hub, a major new healthcare facility proposed by Erica Heathcare Partners.
As previously reported by Star Weekly, Maribyrnong council made the decision to knock back the planning permit for the nine-storey health centre in its November meeting.
However, the final decision remained with the state government which granted a planning permit for the $170 million complex on Geelong Road.
The planning permit was awarded under the Victorian Government’s Development Facilitation Program, which was established in late 2023 to fast-track major new housing developments as well as priority economic development projects.
Erica Healthcare Partners director Ross Ferris said the project would cater for the booming demand of Melbourne’s west.
“The Footscray Clinical Hub will deliver the best for the west: major new investment, hundreds of jobs, and much-needed health care services for the growing population.”
Nearby home owner Anson Le said the outcome was disappointing.
“The main issue the (residents’) committee has is the manner in which this proposal has been dealt with and ultimately approved,” he said.
“We feel really blindsided and kept in the dark as the decision was made without any consultation.
“(Footscray MP) Katie Hall said she would keep us up to date with how this is progressing and see us to discuss our concern, none of those offers were taken up and no updates were provided.”
Ms Hall said she communicated with every resident who raised the matter with her.
“It was important to me to understand their concerns so I could make representations on their behalf,” she said.
“After my discussions with residents, I wrote and spoke to the Minister for Planning to outline and summarise the concerns of residents who had raised objections.
“I provided a copy of that letter to residents.
The decision to approve this permit and the conditions were made under delegation within the Department of Transport and Planning and I received the copy of the permit at the same time as residents.”
Mr Le feels the decision was made suddenly and is concerned this will set a precedent for future developments.
“Despite council having a long list of objections to the project, despite the community and residents voicing all their objections, despite the daycare centre, the proposal has just been put through without any amendments to the initial design,” he said.
“There needs to be greater transparency in these decisions and greater consultation.”
Maribyrnong council Mayor Cuc Lam said council’s concerns had not been addressed.
“While we acknowledge the permit requires some amendments to the original plan, with the exception of privacy issues relating to the development overlooking into nearby residents’ properties, which are bare minimum planning requirements,” she said.
“Our 10 recommendations related to scale, form, design and amenity impact of the development on the surrounding properties.
“Council also requested further consideration of the impact of the development on the local traffic network, which has also not been addressed.
“There are no rights of appeal as the application has gone through the Development Facilitation process.
“Council reiterates its disappointment that planning decisions for developments of this scale, which will have lasting impacts on our community, are being made without due regard for the view of council, and with little to no opportunity for residents to provide submissions.”
