By Kath Gannaway
Below: The
proposed new
building would extend from the west wall to the middle of the existing car parking eliminating car spaces and altering the access on to River Street. 32412
PLANS to extend Healesville Walk Shopping Centre complex will see 30 car parking spaces moved from the carpark into River Street.
Healesville Walk owners Australand have applied to the Shire of Yarra Ranges for permits to build on to the western end of the complex effectively increasing the existing retail space from 4783 square metres to 5511sqm.
Plans currently available at the Shire’s Healesville Community Link show the main expansion would involve building on to the existing building at the west end.
The plans show there are currently 202 car spaces.
The proposed development would provide 224 spaces comprised of 191 on site and 30 on River Street along the back wall of the complex facing Coronation Park.
The complex was originally planned as a three-stage development with stages one and two completed and stage three, the vacant plot of land adjacent to French’s Laundry, approved for development in May 2008.
Signs were recently erected at the River Street and Maroondah Highway entries to the shopping centre advising that an planning application has been lodged, and that no decision will be made prior to 25 June – Thursday.
The Mail was advised by the council’s planning department that the notification applies to issues around car parking and vegetation removal and vehicle access.
It appears expansion of the supermarket does not require notification as it is in a business one zone.
“People cannot object to the building,” the planning spokesman said.
“It they want to object, they can, but we can’t consider the building and works aspect of it,” he said.
He said the council would welcome comments on all aspects of the proposed development, however.
Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae urged residents to provide input if they have any concerns.
“I would encourage people to take the time to look at the plans at the Community Link office and provide their input so that any concerns they may have can be looked at now,” she said.
Submissions – objections to, and support for, the project will be accepted up to the time a decision is made.
“It is, however, in people’s interest to try to get comments to us sooner rather than later,” the planning spokesman said.
The matter will go before a council meeting at a date to be set.
