By Jim Mynard
RESIDENTS of Inglis Road, Berwick, and housing developer Andrew Harmon have moved into a tense waiting game on the fate of a proposed 40dwelling development at 50 Inglis Road.
Residents in the area have persistently objected to the application, primarily because it truncates traditional walking tracks that crossed private property.
The development plan is for 22 singlestorey and 18 doublestorey homes in an enclavetype protected residential area.
Nearby residents vigorously fought the first application saying it would cut traditional walking tracks, be an over development and would cause tree loss.
The council first approved the application, but the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) refused the plan after residents appealed.
Mr Harmon moved to challenge the VCAT decision in the Supreme Court, but also made a second application to the council.
Residents formed the Inglis Road Action Group and raised thousands of dollars to fight the application.
VCAT in August 2004 directed the City of Casey not to grant a permit.
VCAT chairman John Bennett said the main issue of dispute concerned the inappropriate design response, intensity of development, loss of vegetation, traffic generation and failure to include pedestrian links to the existing walkway system.
He said the proposal did not fully respond to the character of the neighbourhood.
A VCAT decision on the application is expected in about four weeks.
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