Concerns rise over town

By Tania Martin
EMERALD residents have called an urgent public meeting on Thursday to voice their objections to a proposed three story complex at 386 Belgrave-Gembrook Road.
Town residents say it would be an over development of the area and are concerned that it will over shadow the adjacent Violet Evelyn Gardens Retirement Village.
The public meeting will be held at the Emerald Community Hall on Thursday at 7.30pm, and the council’s planning department has also been invited to the meeting to hear residents’ concerns.
Cardinia Shire manager of governance and communication Doug Evans said the proposal was for a multi-level complex which would house offices, a medical centre, licensed food and drink premises and serviced apartments.
Resident Helen Anastasios said her aunt, who is in her 80s, lives in the retirement village and is quite frightened by the proposed development.
Ms Anastasios said her aunt’s unit would not only be overshadowed by the development, but that she was concerned about the noise which would come from the complex.
She said people who she has spoken to about the development were shocked that the council would even be considering the proposal.
“People are stunned that such a development is even being considered.
“It might suit somewhere like Pakenham but it would destroy the Emerald village atmosphere if approved,” she said.
Ms Anastasios said there was not sufficient demand in Emerald for the proposed complex, especially as established businesses are rarely filled to capacity.
“I hope that the council will protect the lovely township of Emerald and its village charm by refusing this application,” she said.
David Greenaway from Emerald said the development would be an over development of a very compact site and that it was something that people might expect to see in Toorak, not Emerald.
He said the public meeting on Thursday would give local residents the chance to have their views heard on the proposed development.
Mr Greenaway said applications for submissions also close on Thursday, which hasn’t given residents much chance to put in an objection.
However, Mr Evans said that residents would have the opportunity to make a submission right up until the item goes before the council which could be several months away.
Mr Evans said Thursday, 24 August was a minimum deadline for submissions.
Ms Anastasios said she will also be lobbying local community groups on the issue of the development and investigating the possibility of a class action against the development.