Homeless hostel gets green light

By Melissa Grant
A PAKENHAM boarding house to accommodate 17 homeless men will go ahead despite neighbours’ concerns about safety, noise and its affect on property values.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has given the proposal the green light after it was twice rejected by Cardinia Shire councillors.
The hostel in Dunbarton Drive is currently home to seven men but the tribunal has allowed owners to expand the former childcare centre to 17 rooms.
Councillors had previously deemed the facility’s location and design as inappropriate, saying it was too far from community facilities and public transport.
But VCAT member Alison Glynn disagreed when making her ruling.
“I find the location to be sufficiently accessible for residents that are accustomed to having to walk or ride bicycles to access public transport, retail and community services,” she said.
“Whilst I accept the site is not ideal, I find it sufficiently connected to the services of the town to make it an acceptable location.”
Nine nearby residents had formally objected to the last proposal put before council, citing concerns about safety, noise pollution and potential decrease in property value.
Last year, 58 objections were made and 283 signed a petition against a similar plan.
During the VCAT hearing, solicitor Nick Crawford raised a number of amenity issues on behalf of neighbouring residents and the Cardinia Shire Council.
Mr Crawford said there were concerns that the expansion would result in increased noise, increased traffic and car parking and reduced sense of safety to nearby residents.
Ms Glynn said it was difficult to assume the hostel would lead to noises or a loss of general amenity that wasn’t acceptable in a residential area.
“(However) I acknowledge that given the higher likelihood for anti-social behaviour there is a need to provide a management plan for the use to address issues of noise and disturbance,” she said.
Ms Glynn said she had visited the boarding house and was satisfied with parking on the site.
“I accept that for boarding house accommodation a lower than standard residential parking provision is acceptable,” she said.
“I also note from my inspection of the site that Dunbarton Avenue (sic) is wide and can easily accommodate any additional visitor parking requirements.”
The owners of the boarding houses are required to come up with a management plan, under the conditions of the planning permit.