By KATH GANNAWAY
TRIBUNAL members officiating at the VCAT hearing into a controversial development at the gateway to Healesville visited the site last week.
Yarra Ranges Council rejected a planning permit in February for commercial development of the former sawmill site at 17-25 Maroondah Highway.
The owners are appealing against the council decision at VCAT.
The site visit, on day two of the hearing (Tuesday 9 July) provided the members with a three-dimensional view of the site, its proximity to residential areas, relationship to the highway and Healesville township and other complex issues such as traffic movement.
Yarra Ranges Council and community representatives arguing against the proposal made a number of presentations with key arguments including that it was an inappropriate development for the high-profile western gateway to Healesville, did not comply with design and development overlays, would fragment the town and that while the initial hotel proposal had been removed from the plans, the planned epicurean centre was in fact a ‘pseudo hotel’.
The hearing continued on Monday with the developer expected to present their case over the four sitting days this week.
It is scheduled to continue on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
