By Jed Lanyon
Seville East could soon host a monthly farmer’s market, hot-air balloon rides, medieval role play events, car shows and food festivals under a planning application submitted to Yarra Ranges Council for 10 Douthie Road.
But some nearby residents fear the move will only result in more accidents on a “dangerous” stretch of the Warburton Highway.
The application comes nearly two years after Yarra Ranges Council submitted recommendations to the State Government to upgrade the Warburton Highway in Seville East.
Residents’ pleas for turning lanes and traffic islands are yet to be answered as the State Government opted to lower the speed limit by 10km/h and install reflective road markings and guideposts.
The planning application, which has been objected to by 38 residents to date, proposes the site host up to 1000 visitors while accommodating several hundred parking spaces.
The number of objections means the matter will now go before councillors.
The property’s owner, Geoffrey Fraser, said he was confident the site could be used safely for the benefit of the Seville East community and the wider Yarra Ranges tourism industry.
“The community may be looking at the application and thinking that changed traffic conditions from this land use will be something that they have to contend with daily,” he said.
“The application is for a monthly market, and occasional events. I should think that no one’s road use patience is so low, that they cannot accommodate what essentially will be zero or only low traffic impact, and only on a few occasions throughout the year. Further, when markets or events are happening – traffic will be professionally managed.”
Greg Ellis lives opposite the Douthie Road site and said he was notified about the potential development by mail.
“We were surprised that so much wanted to be run from that property,” he said. “The biggest concern was the amount of traffic and people who are then going to be going through that intersection.
“I object to it, I’ve put in my objection along with most residents who are living directly opposite the property. I’ve spoken to a lot of people in the community and everyone I’ve spoken to is against the proposal.”
Mr Ellis has lived on his Douthie Road property for about a year and a half. He said he moved to the Seville East location as an escape from excessive noise and disruption.
“I’ve had a couple close calls turning into Douthie Road off the Warburton Highway. I find it to be a very dangerous intersection and this isn’t going to do anything positive for the area.”
He hopes councillors will reject the application after they pushed for the State Government to upgrade the infrastructure along the Warburton Highway.
“They see that something needs to be done, yet are entertaining the proposal of increasing traffic through a dangerous intersection.”
Seville Fire Brigade captain Steve Crupi said the brigade had not been consulted on the application.
“It has been brought to my attention that Seville Fire Brigade is stated as providing traffic control and is also part of the Emergency Management Plan for these events,” he said.
“We have not been consulted in regards with these plans and certainly have not agreed to provide any services for any events at this property. Seville Fire Brigade will not be involved with any of these events.”
Nearby co-owner of Morgan’s Winery and Distillery, Simon Gunther, said he was “extremely annoyed” to learn his business had also been lumped in with approval of the planning application. He said he first found out about the plans when nearby residents confronted him asking why the winery’s name was included in the application.
“It directly inferred we were party to it or in support of it when we hadn’t clapped eyes on the application. We were horrified and got straight onto Council to get our name removed,” Mr Gunther said.
Mr Gunther questioned the site’s suitability for events, pointing to nearby locations such as Wandin East and Seville recreation reserves being far better suited to hosting large-scale community events with on-site parking.
“We’re not against it as a concept, we’ve been involved in the chilli festival and the Wandin car show before. I’m a big fan of community events, they’ve just got to be in the right place.
“If you actually go to the site and have a look, it’s nowhere near as straightforward as they’ll have you believe… There’s no area on the property that’s flat enough to even hold an event.
“There’s a million reasons why it’s just not ideal.”
Mr Gunther also expressed his concerns about the Warburton Highway in Seville East.
“It’s bloody dangerous, someone is going to be killed on that road… There’s been enough accidents in that neck of the woods.”
When the question was put to the Department of Transport (DoT) as to whether further upgrades to the highway would be considered upon the potential approval of the application, a DoT spokesperson told Star Mail, “We’ve recently made upgrades to the Warburton Highway to boost safety and accessibility for the community and visitors to the area.”
DoT said that upon being provided the planning application by Yarra Ranges Council, they did not object to it.
DoT said the reflective road markings, guideposts and new speed limit would reduce the risk of run-off-road crashes and head-on collisions on the highway, but did not address the concerns of rear-end collisions which are a common occurrence in the area.
Star Mail has previously shared the story of Helen Lewis, who has the misfortune of being involved in three rear-end car accidents. All along the same location along the Warburton Highway, just metres from her home.
A two car collision occurred at the location in March 2020. This came just nine days after a Labor MP declared the road was “much safer”, following the installation of guideposts and reflective road tilings.
Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence said with the upcoming state budget looming, the State Government has “no excuse” but to fund for dedicated turning lanes.
“Many Seville East residents have raised serious concerns about plans to convert farmland on Douthie Road into showgrounds with up to 500 car parking spaces, so I’m calling on the Council to ensure it consults the community widely.
“Residents have told me they’re angry that such plans could be considered without a commitment by Council and the State Government to also fix this dangerous intersection.”
