Town fights back

By Casey Neill
TECOMA residents fear a $7 million supermarket would destroy their town’s history and character.
More than 100 people flocked to the Burwood Highway site last Friday (17 October) afternoon to protest against the development.
The Hippie Haven Music Café and Indian restaurant Saffron Cottage would be bulldozed if the plans were approved.
The businesses are housed in the historic Hazel Vale Dairy and the owner’s former weatherboard home.
Sherbrooke Foothills Historical Society president Phil Garland said both were built in the 1920s.
“It’s a significant historical site for Tecoma,” he said.
“It would mean a lot to Tecoma if it was demolished.”
Mr Garland said only one other Tecoma store was close to its original state.
Saffron Cottage’s Shabana Iqbal organised Friday’s protest. “We want to get as much support as we can to say people are against this,” she said.
“These are our hills. We don’t want to see them destroyed.”
Hippie Haven’s Chris Parthenides said the proposed development was “just a big ugly eyesore” and would create traffic chaos.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the shire would collate formal objections before the applicant and objectors met to discuss the issues raised.
A shire planning officer would then present a report to councillors for a final decision.
Cr Dunn said this would be in December at the earliest.
“This is a very complex matter,” she said.
More than 50 written objections have been lodged so far.
Formal objections can be lodged until the day the matter goes before council.
“What you bring up will form part of the planning report,” she said.
Cr Dunn could not reveal her personal opinion on the development without risking demands from the applicant to exclude her from voting on the matter.
“Then I wouldn’t be able to represent your interests,” she said.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the supermarket would change Tecoma. “You’ll lose this amazing backdrop,” he told the crowd.
“Once this development comes it’s gone forever.”
Plans lodged with Shire of Yarra Ranges on 11 September propose a supermarket, one smaller store and undercover parking at 1529 Burwood Highway.
The supermarket will have a 2496 square metre floor area, with the smaller store measuring 142 square metres.
A tri-level carpark would include 130 car parking spaces, as well as six motorcycle and 12 bicycle spots.
A 3.8 metre high acoustic fence would surround the site and 10 trees would be removed.
Coles is mentioned in the application, but the supermarket giant would not confirm its involvement.
The application can be viewed at Upwey Community Link, 40 Main Street, Upwey.
Objection forms are available at Hippie Haven and Saffron Cottage.