Delay bid fury

By Tania Martin
MT EVELYN residents are furious at yet another attempt to delay the VCAT hearing for a proposed Safeway supermarket development.
Woolworths Limited has now weighed into the fight and called for a three-month adjournment.
The multi-national company will go before VCAT on Friday to call for the adjournment because it now wants to be a part of the hearing.
But the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the town’s environmental group said Woolworths has no right to be part of the proceedings.
This comes as Woolworths Limited announced that it was buying the land in question from developer, Arch Carswell.
Mayor Tim Heenan said he was furious that the multi-national conglomerate was trying to push its way into the VCAT hearing.
“We are livid that this is happening and will be opposing the adjournment,” he said.
Cr Heenan said that Woolworths is not the original applicant and has so far not been party to the development and that shouldn’t change because they are buying the land.
“We (the council) don’t want to see the VCAT actioned stopped,” he said.
“There is a process that must be followed and the hearing date is already set and should go ahead as planned.”
The people of Mt Evelyn having fighting against the proposed supermarket development since 2003 when the land on the corner of Snowball Avenue and Station Street was rezoned from residential to business.
Mt Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association president Frank Smith said it would be a dark day for the town if Woolworths wins the right to be part of the appeal.
“Many people feel that they have reached the end of their ability to go on ‘fighting’ and feel ‘beaten’,” he said.
“But this development has a long way to go and we must keep up the fight.”
Mr Smith said if the people of Mt Evelyn continue to rally together they could beat this development.
“There is no doubt that if this development is allowed to proceed then what we will end up with will be a mini Chirnside Park,” he said.
“Make no mistake! What is at risk here is the Mount Evelyn we all know.”
But despite intense anger over Woolworths calling for an adjournment, Cr Heenan said the people of Mt Evelyn are ready for a fight.
“We are not going to be like Melaney in Queensland where Woolworths muscled its way into the community and forced them to accept a supermarket development,” he said.
“We are not idiots in Mt Evelyn and the corporate giants might think they can muscle their way in but it’s just not going to happen here.”
Cr Heenan said the people of Mt Evelyn are getting ready to stand up for the final bout in this long battle to have the proposed development refused.
“I am going to stand right beside the community every inch of the way and fight this,” he said.
“We (Mt Evelyn) don’t need another supermarket and Woolworths is not welcome.”