Castle besieged

By Tania Martin
A FULL house is expected to welcome a council report recommending that a $3.1 million medieval castle style development in Olinda be refused.
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillors are due to meet tonight (Tuesday) to consider the report.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said refusing the application was the only decision that the council should make.
The council received 49 objections to the application with nearby residents saying it would be detrimental to the landscape and the character of the area.
Last year Cr Cliff likened the castle-like development in Chalet Road to Michael Jackson’s Neverland mansion.
“It just doesn’t complement the amenity of the area but it might be all right for Austria or the Black Forrest of Germany,” he said.
A report due to go before the council tonight outlines the application for the castle which includes six bedrooms, three bed and breakfast suites, a gallery, living and recreational areas, a kitchen, several bathrooms and a cellar.
However, the report outlines the proposal’s failure to address the preferred character of the neighbourhood and landscape.
Cr Cliff said in refusing this castle style development, the council was thinking of the future generations who will be living in the area.
“We (the council) have to think about the future generations who are going to be living here and have to look at that eyesore,” he said.
Shire manager of community relations James Martin said he would not be at all surprised if the gallery was full tonight as there were so many objections to the development.
Meanwhile, more controversy surrounded the people who want to build the castle.
Neighbours say several boulders from another plot of land belonging to the applicants are blocking a fire access road on the corner of McCarthy and Chalet Roads.
Nearby resident Baden Fraceswilliams said he was concerned that if there was a fire residents would not be able to get through to the fire access road.
“How could someone get away with doing something like this,” he said.
Mr Martin said the council is currently investigating the issue involving the fire access road but it appears that a permit was given to the castle applicants to put in a driveway.
However he said they had built up a retaining type wall behind the driveway which is now blocking the fire access road.
Cr Cliff said the fire access road was now inaccessible.
Mr Martin said the area would certainly require some major engineering works but that the council was investigating the issue further.
The Mail could not get in contact with the applicants before going to print.