A recent planning permit’s proposed changes at the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre would “destroy the heart” of the town as local businesses and community spaces would be uprooted, various community members have claimed.
Clea Reynolds, owner of local variety store Cortella, started a petition opposing the changes after she found out her store was excluded in the planning permit application.
“I was a bit shocked because it wasn’t communicated to us… they had just launched it with the council,” she said.
Submitted by retail property service provider RetPro, the planning permit would see the expansion of the Woolworths swallow up the existing Cortella discount store and strong-arm the small business out of its home.
The application is now in the hands of the Yarra Ranges Council’s planning department, who will make a decision to approve or deny the application in the future.
With no alternative provided, Cortella’s future could be curtailed and Ms Reynolds would be left to try and find a new location.
The online petition currently has 516 verified signatures at the time of publication – to sign the petition, visit: chng.it/5x9s7vTrKr
But, Cortella isn’t the only store affected by the proposed changes.
Also on the chopping block are cuts to parking spaces and a significant reduction of the indoor communal space.
Yarra Junction Action Group treasurer Carole Corcoran said turning the indoor community space into a small pedestrian link would “destroy the heart of Yarra Junction”.
“It would have been approximately 100 people that I spoke to, and of that 100, there was only one person only in favour of the change, the rest hated it.”
“It’s where people meet, where they make friends and chat. This community here is a very, very friendly, caring community and we do look after each other and to lose that area, the full consensus was it would be the worst thing that could happen because it’s a very unique space,” Ms Corcoran said.
It would also see the shopfronts of the remaining stores moved to the outside of the centre.
Ms Reynolds said it would drastically change the character of the centre.
“I think if you come here and you see what it’s like, you will see what the community is going to miss. It’s going to really affect the atmosphere of everything,” Ms Reynolds said.
Should the proposed permit be approved, available parking spaces would be cut from 113 to 90, which includes the centre’s only emergency parking bay and one disability parking space.
Supporters of the petition expressed their opposition to the changes in the comments.
One signee said: “The Yarra Junction area is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes the need for improved infrastructure—especially when it comes to parking. It’s concerning to hear that the proposed development of the Yarra Junction shops includes a reduction in parking spaces.”
Another signee said: “This permit shows a complete disregard to, or lack of, community consultation for what is, the main community hub. I personally can’t see this proposal benefiting anyone in the local area once constructed, aside from Woolworths.”
RetPro were contacted for comment.
Cortella has traded at the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre since 2009, supplying the community with art and craft, homeware and other niche products not available elsewhere in Yarra Junction.
“Especially out here, we don’t have a huge assortment of offerings – we give access to everyday products you’d have to go to Lilydale to get otherwise,” Ms Reynolds said.
“We’ve gone through so much winter stuff, no one else sells socks and gloves.”
For Ms Reynolds, potentially losing her place at the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre has left her feeling indignant and concerned for Cortella’s future.
“It’s just hard, I love where we are, and where we work, we’re so lucky to have the community we have,” she said.
But she’s determined to not go down without a fight.
“We’re willing to go as far as the community wants us to go.”
