No Coles zone

By Casey Neill
TECOMA has celebrated a rare victory over a major supermarket chain.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last week rejected a $7 million Coles store because it was out of character for the tiny town.
Tecoma Village Action Group spokeswoman Anita Dealy was “elated” following the news. She said it had been a long, tough fight.
“We just can’t believe it,” she said.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the design would have spoiled the town’s natural landscape.
“The area must be protected from developments that threaten to ultimately destroy the backdrop that is its greatest asset,” he said.
Lyster ward councillor Samantha Dunn was “absolutely ecstatic”.
“In fact you could not wipe the smile off my face,” she said. “I was a bit nervous about this particular hearing because it doesn’t happen very often that VCAT reject supermarket applications.”
Cr Dunn said this decision was only the second time VCAT had denied a supermarket application – the first was a Safeway proposed for Mount Evelyn last year.
“It would be a big glass box at the front and a three-storey concrete wall at the back, which most of Tecoma would have to look at,” she said. “It would have been absolutely disgusting. The design was so out of character with this area.”
Developer Freeman Tecoma applied in September last year to build the supermarket, two specialty stores and undercover parking near the Burwood Highway and Sandells Road corner.
Objectors said it would increase traffic and noise and ruin the township’s “village feel”.
The project would have also seen the historic Hazelvale Dairy and original farmer’s residence bulldozed.
Shire of Yarra Ranges’ councillors unanimously rejected the proposal in March based on its size, design and impact on adjoining residents.
They received 531 objections and 16 petitions opposing the development and just four submissions in support.
But VCAT was left to decide its fate after the shire failed to make a decision within the required 60 days.
The tribunal’s report said its decision did not rule out a supermarket on the site.
“Such a development will, however, need to be much more modest than that proposed here,” it read.
An 11-metre high rear wall less than seven metres from a neighbouring home proved a sticking point.
“The sheer height and extent of the wall is such that it will loom large over the neighbouring residential property,” the report said.
Cr Dunn did not object to the idea of a supermarket on the site.
“It’s business zoned, it’s right in the middle of the shops. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest a supermarket should be here,” she said.
She said something needed to fill the vacant block.
“These sort of open spaces do tend to become a bit messy and unkempt, and the graffiti has been a real issue in Tecoma,” she said. “But it has to be fitting with the streetscape and be low-scale like the rest of Tecoma.”
A Coles spokeswoman said the company was disappointed with VCAT’s decision to limit the development’s scale.
“We’re currently in discussions with the site developer to see what other options are available to us for our customers,” she said.
Developer Joel Freeman declined to comment on the matter.