Show stopper!

By Casey Neill
BURRINJA’S performing arts centre has hit yet another snag with 10 residents lodging an appeal against the Matson Drive development with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillors unanimously approved plans for the 400-seat Upwey auditorium at their 12 August meeting.
But objectors said the development was inappropriate in a residential area.
They said the centre was too big, and plans failed to address concerns over noise.
According to their VCAT application, a traffic impact assessment was ‘deficient’ and did not justify the small number of car spaces provided.
Residents also said a liquor licence extension was inappropriate for the area and had not been discussed during community consultation.
Burrinja executive officer Ross Farnell said planning permit conditions would minimise the facility’s impact, but Burrinja would continue to negotiate with residents.
Committee president Paul O’Halloran was disappointed the issues could not be resolved through consultation or mediation.
He said Burrinja consulted extensively with residents and their feedback had shaped the project.
The Federal Labor Government placed the development in jeopardy in May this year when it scrapped the Regional Partnerships scheme and all uncontracted projects.
The Howard Government last year pledged $2 million for Burrinja under the scheme, but no formal contract had been signed.
The federal cash was finally confirmed last month.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff was confident VCAT would uphold the planning permit and hoped the matter would be resolved quickly.
“Our money that we’ve got loses its value. If the project is held up we’ll have to cut back on things and I don’t want to do that,” he said.
“Because federal money with conditions on when it has to be spent is involved, VCAT may give it a special hearing.”
The redevelopment includes a 400-seat auditorium, indigenous cultural education garden, and improvements to the studios and galleries.
The shire has allocated $4.6 million to the project while the State Government committed $3 million.
Construction is set to begin in mid 2009.