Off to VCAT

By Jade Lawton
THE developers behind a controversial six-level hotel and retail complex proposed for Lyall Road, Berwick, have lodged a VCAT appeal against the City of Casey’s decision to dump the application.
The Harmon Group’s plans for a development including a supermarket, office space and hotel on 1-9 Lyall Road were rejected by the council in July after officers deemed it inappropriate.
President of the Casey-Cardinia branch of the National Trust, Ruth Crofts, said objectors had now received a letter from the Harmon Group’s solicitor.
“I don’t think there have been any amendments – they have just written that they didn’t agree with the grounds it was rejected on,” she said.
Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce President Harry Hutchinson said he would discuss the matter with the newly-elected chamber executive before deciding how to proceed.
“We need to work out which way to go. Our members are very much in favour of a development going on the site, we would be happy to see something on a smaller scale and we would be happy to support (the developer) in achieving that,” he said.
“But we will be concerned if it is going ahead with the same amount of parking.”
Berwick resident Ian Chisholm, who has battled the Harmon Group in VCAT before over a development proposed for Inglis Road, said fighting big business was overwhelming.
VCAT supported residents in that instance – as did the Supreme Court when the Harmon Group took the fight further.
However, VCAT approved an amended version of the application that made way for one walkway rather than the two walkways residents were hoping for.
“The difference there was we had to do it ourselves. In this case I understand residents would be working closely with council and whoever they engage,” Mr Chisholm said.
It is expected the Lyall Road appeal will come before VCAT early next year.
Paul Harmon, of Harmon Group, declined to comment.
When the group’s original proposal was rejected in July, a council officer’s report said the proposal was inconsistent with the Berwick Village Commercial Centre Strategy, did not deal with parking or traffic concerns, and had the potential to have an adverse impact on the amenity of the adjoining residential area.
The development outraged many village residents, who sent 335 objections to Casey Council. More than 150 residents also attended the Berwick RSL for a meeting on the proposal, and were warned it was likely the developer had budgeted to take the application to VCAT.