The Riddells Creek community will soon have answers on the final direction of an Amess Road development that could change the face of their town.
In October, the Minister for Planning referred both the application for a permit to build, and draft amendment C161 to the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme, to a standing advisory committee for advice and recommendations.
The advisory committee recently completed its series of public hearings on the matter, and is expected to deliver the report of its findings and advice to the minister this month.
The amendment would allow a housing development that is anticipated to urbanise and double the size of Riddells Creek.
Amess Road’s housing proposal seeks to develop 131.8 hectares to create about 1360 new households and 3808 new residents.
The plans are being assessed through the state government’s Development Facilitation Program that accelerates priority projects and gives planning powers to the minister.
However, both Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Riddells Creek community are united in their resolve for a better outcomes.
Riddells Creek residents have repeatedly objected to the size and density of the development, petitioning for minimum lot sizes of 800sqm. MRSC held similar concerns, unanimously rejecting the plans last year.
Residents and MRSC presented to an advisory committee at a three-week panel hearing that concluded in February.
Riddells Creek Planning Group has been an active community group in lobbying for changes to the plans.
RCPG’s Ross Colliver said about 50 residents addressed the committee to express concern about application’s potential impacts.
“They were really clear that the proposal would fund a fundamentally changed Riddells Creek – it’s not what they signed up for,” he said.
“Putting in growth that will really stretch the capacity of the people is dangerous because it threatens what makes the community a viable and amenable place to live.”
Key issues raised at the hearing included impacts on traffic, neighbourhood character, amenities, retail environment, and bushfire risk.
RCPG’s Rob McConville was concerned that Victoria’s growing population and housing crisis could influence the outcome of the application.
“Modest growth is what we campaigned for,” he said.
“This process is the government taking control and implementing how the regions will look. It’s no longer about developer versus the community. The fight has reached another level.”
Mr McConville said the outcome of this application could set a precedent for other growing towns facing similar large-scale developments.
“If they can simply overturn this, then look out for what can happen elsewhere as well,” he said.
“Are we going to have lots and lots of Wyndham Vales, Beveridges and Sunburys, that don’t have access to the facilities and infrastructure they need and have to travel to access it?”
He said the tolerance levels of regional communities was being tested.
RCPG has expressed it would like the Victorian Government to release the advisory committee’s report to ensure full transparency.
Last week, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, spoke in Parliament to call for confirmation that the report would be released.
There is no formal requirement to release the report, and the Minister has complete discretion about whether the committee’s report is made public.
