By Parker McKenzie
Traders and community members in Kallista are celebrating a VCAT decision to block the development of a petrol station on the main street.
Yarra Ranges refused to issue a planning permit for the development of the site at 80-82 Monbulk Road in September 2020 after community opposition. The developers subsequently appealed to VCAT.
After the initial VCAT hearing on 5 August 2021, the decision to uphold Yarra Ranges Council’s decision was made on Monday 2 May.
Kallista Deli owner Richard Harrop said it was a great decision because the petrol station wasn’t needed by the local community.
“To see the community come together after the last two years, where we’ve all had to support each other through storms and things,” he said.
“It just shows the resilience of this community.”
Clementine by Design owner Jo Caterer said the late opening hours of the petrol station would have been inappropriate for the village because it would damage local businesses like the Kallista General Store.
“We’ve got a new petrol station in Monbulk, just five minutes down the road. There wasn’t really even a need for it,” she said.
“A convenience store would be detrimental to that general store. I think it was an inappropriate development for a village like this.”
Wilga owner Tamarind Croft said the decision makes her feel hopeful for the future of Kallista.
“I’m excited about how awesome Kallista will be in the future,” she said.
“It would be good to have a few more small shops.”
Kallista CFA member Bill Pizzey said there was an environmental risk in having a petrol station so close to the centre of town.
“It’s brought a lot of people together, and trying to keep this moving forward and putting in something good there,” he said.
“Hopefully they’ll put in shops. I think there’s also a proposal to have residential above, like the place across the road.”
Richard Hecker said as a member of the school council, he wanted to represent the needs of the local students and children in opposing the development.
“There were concerns over the junk food, a lot of people here try to eat well, the school is famous for its kitchen garden program.”
“I would love to see this developed somehow as it is an eyesore, but appropriate development.”
Local resident Jes Chalmers said she wished more consultation had been made with the community before the development was launched.
“We crowdfunded to get a planner to support us and everyone, and there were some real key community members who were willing to pitch in and help out. Everyone put their hands in their pockets to make this a worthwhile response,” she said.
“It wasn’t about stopping people from developing. We want the land developed but we want it developed in a way that the community will benefit from it.”
Local Fuels Pty was contacted for comment. It is unclear if they intend to appeal the decision.
