Village under pressure

By Tania Martin
EMERALD retirees fear they will be forced to sell their homes if a proposed four-storey complex goes ahead.
Over the past month there has been intense speculation over the proposed development at 386 Belgrave-Gembrook Road.
Retirees from the Violet Evelyn Gardens Retirement Village fear they will have to sell their homes and move away from the town if the development is approved.
The development is for a multi-level complex which will house offices, a medical centre, licensed food and drink premises, serviced apartments and an underground car park.
Ron Duncan fears his privacy will be taken away by the proposed development as the back of the complex will have its windows and balconies facing his back yard.
Mr Duncan said he was also concerned about the noise that the development will create.
“There is already noise coming from the restaurant four doors down at all hours of the night,” he said.
Betty Love said she understands that the land needs developing but had always thought it would end up being more residential units.
“Whatever is built there it shouldn’t be higher then our units,” she said.
Joan Taylor said when she moved into the Violet Evelyn Gardens Retirement Village she hoped she wouldn’t have to move again.
But the retirees say they would not be able to stay at the village if the development goes ahead.
Ms Love said she isn’t sure what she will do if the development is approved.
“With offices opening at 9am and restaurants closing at 1-2am in the morning there will be noise all hours of the day seven days a week.
“I can’t see how it’s possible for me to stay with all that going on,” she said.
Ms Love said the closest retirement village is Chestnuts Garden in Westlands Road, Emerald, and has no units available.
Although the application won’t go before the council for several months, Ms Love has urged Emerald residents to stick together and keep up the pressure on the Cardinia Shire Council to reject the application.
However, Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said nothing more can be done until the matter goes before the council.
Ms Lobato told the Mail several weeks ago that planning regulations under the Cardinia Planning Scheme already provides protection against inappropriate developments.
And she said a proposal that is out of keeping with the local neighbourhood should not be approved under planning guidelines.