Action group protests Forest Ridge development approval
PEOPLE living next to a Forest Hill site where scenes for TV show Neighbours are filmed have formed an action group fighting plans to turn it into a mini-suburb they’ve dubbed “concrete-ville”.
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PEOPLE living next to a Forest Hill site where scenes for TV show Neighbours are filmed have formed an action group fighting plans to turn it into a mini-suburb they’ve dubbed “concrete-ville”.
The Forest Hill group are desperate to stop the impending “overdevelopment” and have formed the Fight Forest Ridge Action Group to fight it.
The group, which has plans for protests and to pursue legal help, are campaigning against the development at the former Channel 10 site, where Neighbours scenes are still filmed.
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The plan, submitted by the 10 Consulting Group on behalf of property owner Bazem Pty Ltd, is for about 700 new dwellings, ranging from two to six storeys for the 9ha site.
The proposal had been rejected by Whitehorse Council and residents, but was then approved at the state planning tribunal in November.
Fight Forest Ridge Action Group are protesting what they say was a “secret backflip” by the council, who later backed the plan at the tribunal hearing, and are campaigning for a review of the VCAT decision.
Spokesman Chris Coney said the group had been posting letterbox flyers and spreading the word around Forest Hill for two months, and he was confident most residents opposed the version of the Forest Ridge Development plan approved at the tribunal.
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Last year, residents made 101 submissions to the council on the original development plans — including a petition — with only three indicating support for part of the plans.
Nine of 10 councillors opposed the plans when they were put before the council’s meeting in September.
Applicant Bazem Pty Ltd took the plans to VCAT.
Council general manager city development Jeff Green said the council was in discussion with the applicant before the hearing, and by the date of it, “sufficient progress had been achieved for the council to be satisfied that the development plan in its amended form”.
Mr Green said the plan “met the requirements of the Whitehorse Planning Scheme and would achieve an acceptable outcome” and the council was satisfied “due process had been followed”.
But the campaigners do not plan to stop.
They have met with Forest Hill state Liberal MP Angus Neil about their concerns and have plans for protests and legal aid.
“We want Forest Hill, not concrete-ville,” some of their signs read.
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