Maidstone residents are taking their fight against a townhouse project to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, arguing the proposal is an overdevelopment of the leafy site and threatens a mature street tree.
Suffolk Street resident Corie Waddell said a number of neighbouring residents were vehemently opposed to Maribyrnong council’s approval to demolish a house on their street to be replaced by three, two-storey townhouses.
“We identified a number of clauses in existing council drafted and owned policy that contradicts this approval,” she said.
“Unique to this particular property is the significant coverage of foliage that extends to the boundary of the property in terms of appreciation and contribution to overall streetscape.”
A town planning submission lodged with the development application argued the development will not adversely affect the character of the area.
“There are numerous nearby examples of two-storey, attached multi-dwelling developments in close proximity of the site, which justifies this particular proposal,” it stated.
“The three double-storey dwellings on the subject site will provide for housing diversity within this area, as well as representing housing that would provide a high level of amenity for future occupiers.”
Neighbour Siobhan Andrews said residents had been let down by a lack of explanation from the council as to why the development was approved.
She said the lack of transparency around decision making meant residents had no choice but to pursue the matter in VCAT.
