By JESSE GRAHAM
A CONTROVERSIAL application for Healesville’s former sawmill site will be back before the Yarra Ranges Council later this year, with public consultation set to open shortly.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Acting Director of Planning, Building and Health, Kim Marriott, confirmed that an application had been lodged with the council for the former sawmill site at the entrance to town.
However, Ms Marriott noted that the application was incomplete.
“The applicant has until the end of July to provide this to council,” she said.
“Once the necessary information has been received, the application will be put to public notification.
“This will provide an opportunity for the community to review the plans and associated documents and make submissions if they choose to do so before it goes to council.”
The sawmill site previously had an application for an epicurean centre, a service station, function centre, brewery and fast food facilities approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after being voted down by Yarra Ranges councillors in 2013.
Other media outlets have reported that the new application will feature an 80-room hotel – a feature removed from the initial application – and a community market.
Healesville Chamber of Commerce secretary, Garry Christie, said he was personally divided on the matter, having fought his own battle for an application for extended opening hours at his business.
“I’ve got two schools of thought, unfortunately,” he said
He said that, on one hand, he was supportive of businesses putting applications forward as long as their goals were within their permitted use under the planning scheme.
“On the other hand, given it’s a sensitive location and it’s the entrance to the town, whatever goes there needs to be appropriate and fit in with the town’s history and future growth,” he said.
The Mail attempted to contact the developer for the sawmill site application with questions about the new application and its features, but did not receive a response.
The Yarra Ranges Council has not announced when a consultation period may open for the application.
