By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey council has rejected a developer’s proposed high-density housing project on the former Doveton Secondary College site.
The 5.82 hectare site at the corner of Box Street and Ficifolia Drive, Doveton, was bought for $10.6 million in 2014 and illegally cleared of 53 native trees last year.
A tree lopper pleaded guilty and was fined $5000 without conviction for the breach, but the developer was not linked to the offence.
A Casey council report on 20 September stated it was “imperative that any development proposals do not further exacerbate this loss”.
“There was and continues to be… strong community sentiment on the protection and enhancement of important vegetation and tree cover on the former school site.”
The developer’s draft plans were rejected by council planners in March and again in July.
According to its report, Casey council was initially unsatisfied by the housing design and diversity, lack of space for canopy tree planting and stormwater drainage into the adjacent Thomas P Carroll Reserve in Greater Dandenong.
The revised draft failed to provide adequate car and pedestrian access, would chop down existing vegetation and lacked a visual link to nearby public open space.
“The site is (an) important infill site for council and obtaining a high quality planning outcome is needed.”
Councillor Wayne Smith endorsed the council’s actions including its willingness to fight the developer at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
He said the site had “great strategic importance not only for the City of Casey but Doveton”.
“It should set a standard for urban renewal in Doveton.”
Casey council and the developer are scheduled to meet in a compulsory conference at VCAT on 31 October.
