Jade Jungwirth
Mount Alexander Shire councillors aired mixed views on the refusal of a double-storey development and two-lot subdivision opposite picturesque bushland at Castlemaine.
The Parker Street application attracted 11 objections from across nine properties as well as council officer recommendation for refusal.
Council officer reservation was largely due to the design, appearance and layout not being in keeping with existing and preferred neighbourhood character.
Five councillors voted in favour of the motion to refuse the application, with Crs Stephen Gardner and Bill Maltby in opposition.
Cr Christine Henderson, who presented the motion, remarked on the importance of maintaining the neighbourhood’s character.
“This council’s strategic planning department is doing quite a bit of work on neighbourhood studies in Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton in order to protect the neighbourhood character of our towns,” she said.
“This street is very precious and faces onto a bit of public land. I think what we allow to be built on these streets is very important.
“I’m not saying we can’t have densification, but I think that what is proposed, with this big, bold, double-garage, semi-detached, is totally inappropriate for that neighbourhood.”
Cr Gardner opposed the motion stating the site was in a general residential zone with no overlays and there was currently a brand new building next to the property.
“We’re living in a time when we’re encouraging social housing, more growth, etcetera, and on the other hand we’re saying no you can’t split a block up because we don’t like it,” Cr Gardner said.
“I must admit I was a little bit surprised by the officer’s recommendation because I do think it’s a bit slanted towards what people have been objecting to when a lot of the issues raised have been addressed in terms of the application.
“I don’t see how the council or councillors get to say it’s new; so it’s not good. The design is contemporary steel cladding, with wood.
“To me, we’re not here to make a decision about other people’s taste in architecture.”
Cr Maltby also opposed the motion, highlighting the presence of a large number of modern dwellings in the region and that modern architecture should be allowed.
“The fact is, it’s one dwelling in 30 or 40 houses. Yes, it’s a modern dwelling, but, two doors up is a modern dwelling. It’s not encroaching on bushland, it’s actually in the residential part of the street,” he said.
“Driving around Castlemaine and other towns, this dwelling won’t look out of place. In my opinion, it’s not going to ruin the streetscape.”
